All You Cannot Live Without 01.15.06: Its Gramm-tastic!
Posted by Ben Czajkowski on 01.15.2006
2006 Grammy picks. Start thinking bout Ozzfest. Scott Weiland's 12-Step Weight Loss Program. Babes in Tommyland? Plus, another BCSA and BIG F-ing news you cannot afford to miss! All inside!
Prelude to the Media
Welcome to another edition of All You Cannot Live Without. Let me start out by saying that I'm disappointed in every fucking music critic, including myself, that listed their top 10 Metal or Hard Rock Albums of 2005. We are all a bunch of fucking idiots. No one that I read or glanced at listed Static-X'sStart A War in their top 10, 20, or 30. Hell, they didn't even get an honorable mention. I think this is a huge oversight by everyone, and we should all send them sympathy cards for not getting any attention. Durr, should I grab my shovel?
Since everyone does their whole list thing at the end of the year, I decided to be creative and name the top 5 CDs I wish I had spent more time listening to but probably never will.
05. Taproot Bly-Sky Research
04. Trapt Someone In Control
03. Nonpoint To the Pain
02. Thrice - Vheissu
01. Staind Chapter V Staind used to occupy my list as my favorite band, but after selling out during 14 Shades of Grey, they relinquished that top spot. Aaron Lewis really let himself go (AKA he got fat) after the birth of Oh-So-Sweet Zoe Jane. After listening to a few tracks from Chapter V, I decided it was in my best interest to never listen to the album. Aaron Lewis and company, you are dead to me.
My friend Eric is currently sending me a band called Screaming Monkey Boner. Just the name garnishes it a listen from me. He says they sound like Mindless Self Indulgence and Dog Fashion Disco got together and had a crack baby. Hott. Actually, to me, they sound like really old, yet polished System of a Down. That's the only mention they get this week. Sorry.
My Sweet Little Bitches
You can't remix Jared McGuckin and you can't remix heavy metal tracks. Read his rant and saturate yourself in sound.
Matt Shoemaker combs the slimy underbelly of California for bands you probably haven't heard of. You should really check out this column, at least, this week, and check out the last band he has listed.
Brandon Ratliff feels "wuvved" this week with his exclusive interview with Wuv from P.O.D.
Dusty Goodwin says goodbye to 2005 and sends it on its way with his Top 10 List and a wholesome gift basket.
Michael Horvath teases us with his top 20 singles for 2005. This week is 20-11, respectively. Some I agree with, and others I stare blankly. It's going to be interesting to see who is #1.
Frank Estrada looks at my second-favorite category in music: chick rock.
Shane Viars has the selected discography from the Alkaline Trio.
Fellow Polack Jeff Modzelewski, whose last name I can now spell without looking, keeps Mondays happy with what I'm calling the "sister" column to this one, meaning he gives you some of the metal stuff I won't touch with a stick.
Ian Wright might be dead when I write this, but his recent column takes a few pot shots and has some good stuff in it.
Phill Watts mourns the death of 2006's first downed hero.
Rhett Walker serves up some of his deep, southern-fried lovin' for all you kiddies. We both flick off Amy Lee. Repeatedly. He takes first shots at her, and I take my on the 22nd.
Tollah beckons for you to WAKE THE FUCK UP AND ROCK! He thinks Avril Lavigne is hotter than Christina Scabbia. He's on fucking crack, but still, he has a good column.
It's All Too Much to Look Up Yourself, So I've Done the Work for You
The Strokes First Impressions of Earth (out now)
Chimaira Chimaira (2 CD Special Edition) (out now)
Hed (pe) Only In Amerika: Live, Raw and Uncensored (DVD) (out now)
Switched Ghosts In The Machine (out now)
Switched Subject To Change (out now)
Bleeding Through The Truth (out now)
Underworld: Evolution Soundtrack (out now)
Dragonforce Inhuman Rampage (out now)
2006 Grammy Nominees Various Artists (January 17th)
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones The Hidden Land (January 17th)
P.O.D. Testify (January 24th)
Yellowcard - Lights and Sounds (January 24th)
Jane's Addiction - The Best of Jane's Addiction (January 24th)
She Wants Revenge She Wants Revenge (January 31st)
David Lee Roth - The Best (January 31st)
In Flames Come Clarity (February 3rd Europe, February 7th US)
Machine Head Burn My Eyes Special Edition (February 7th)
Whitesnake The Definitive Collection (February 7th)
My Chemical Romance - Life on the Murder Scene (February 7th)
Kittie - Never Again EP (February 7th)
Collective Soul Home (DVD) (February 7th)
Sleepless In Seattle: The Birth of Grunge - Various Artists (February 7th)
Katatonia The Great Cold Distance (February 13th)
Kid Rock - Live (February 14th)
Metal's Dark Side Hard and the Furious Volume 1 (DVD) (February 21st)
Various Artists - Black Days: Midwest Movement Tribute to Soundgarden (February 21st)
Loser Nobody Knows (February 27th)
Mogwai - Mr. Beast (March 6th)
Taylor Hawkins and The Coattail Riders - Taylor Hawkins and The Coattail Riders (March 7th)
Boysetsfire The Misery Index; Notes from the Plague Years (March 7th)
Mindless Self Indulgence Straight to Video: The Remixes (March 7th)
Norma Jean O' God the Aftermath (Re-release) (March 7th)
Faktion Faktion (March 21st)
From First to Last Heroine (March 21st)
Silent Civilian - Rebirth of the Temple (March 21st)
Live - Songs from Black Mountain (March 21st)
Atreyu A Deathgrip on Yesterday (March 28th)
Lacuna Coil Karmacode (March 31st Europe, April 3rd UK, April 4th US)
Soil True Self (April 4th)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium (May 8th UK, May 9th US)
Walls Of Jericho Yet Untitled (July 25th)
It's all just a popularity contest, and you fuckin' know it.
Welcome to my preview of the 48th Grammy Music Awards. (If you're in this strictly for the news, jump to the piece under this section.) This year, there are many surprising, new bands, some with talent, and others with shitty music and media hype/radio play. Barf. I don't think any of the nominees are really deserving of this award because most of them suck the Man's cock.
There is something like 108 awards to be handed out. Let's look at the categories that pertain to this column, or close enough to it. Everything else is worthless! "My choice" is who I'd like to see win out of the category and the prediction is who is most likely to win this year.
I sincerely apologize for the disfunctionality of this section. I had to overcome some serious HTML issues and the inabibility to use tables in this editor to make this look pretty, so I found a tag that partially worked. Whatever. Fuck HTML and it's functionality vs. formatting bullshit. Here we go!
BEST NEW ARTISTRECORD OF THE YEAR
Ciara Maria Carey - We Belong Together
Fall Out Boy Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.
Keane Greenday - Boulevard of Broken Dreams
John Legend Gwen Stefani Hollaback Girl
Sugarland Kanye West Gold Digger My Choice: Keane My Choice: Greenday Predicted: Fall Out Boy Predicted: Greenday
ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUMSOLO ROCK PERFORMANCE
The Arcade Fire Funeral Eric Clapton - Revolution
Beck Guero Robert Plant - Shine It All Around
Death Cab for Cutie Plans Bruce Springsteen Devils and Dust
Franz Ferdinand You Could Rob Thomas This Is How A Heart Breaks
The White Stripes Get Behind Neil Young The Painter My Choice: Death Cab My Choice: Rob Thomas Predicted: The White Stripes Predicted: Bruce Springsteen
DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALHARD ROCK
Coldplay Speed of Sound Audioslave Doesn't Remind Me
Foo Fighters Best of You Nine Inch Nails The Hand that Feeds
Franz Ferdinand Do You Want To Robert Plant Tin Pan Valley
The Killers All These Things That QOTSA Little Sister
U2 Sometimes You Can't Make It SOAD B.Y.O.B. My Choice: Foo Fighters My Choice: NIN Predicted: Coldplay Predicted: SOAD
ROCK SONGROCK ALBUM
Foo Fighters Best of You Coldplay X&Y
Weezer Beverley Hills Foo Fighters In Your Honor
U2 City of Blinding Lights The Rolling Stones A Bigger Bang
Bruce Springsteen Devils and Dust U2 How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
Coldplay Speed of Sound Neil Young Prairie Wind My Choice: Foo Fighters My Choice: Foo Fighters Predicted: Coldplay Predicted: Coldplay
METAL SONGMALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE
Ministry The Great Satan Jack Johnson - Sitting, Waiting, Wishing
Mudvayne Determined Paul McCartney - Fine Line
Rammstein Mein Teil Seal - Walk On By
Shadows Fall What Drives the Weak Rob Thomas - Lonely No More
Slipknot Before I Forget Stevie Wonder - From The Bottom Of My Choice: Slipknot My Choice: Jack Johnson Predicted: Slipknot Predicted: Rob Thomas
POP PERFORM. GROUP W/ VOCALPOP COLLABORATION W/ VOCALS
The Black Eyed Peas - Don't Lie Black Eyed Peas/Jack Johnson - Gone Going
The Killers - Mr. Brightside Foo Fighters ft. Norah Jones - Virginia Moon
Los Lonely Boys - More Than Love Gorillaz ft. De La Soul - Feel Good Inc.
Maroon 5 - This Love Herbie Hancock ft. Christina Aguilera - A Song For You
The White Stripes - My Doorbell Stevie Wonder ft. India.Arie - A Time To Love My Choice: The Killers My Choice: Gorillaz Predicted: The Killers Predicted: Gorillaz
Tune in February 8, 2006 on CBS, live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. I doubt it'll be an exciting show, but it's something to pass the time. I'll be watching and not doing homework!
Alright, enough with the Grammies. They're not even hearing yet and I'm sick of researching them. Onto
The Low Down on the Underground
Someone lied to someone who, in turn, lied to me without ever knowing it. So much for truthiness! Despite 36 Crazyfists recent announcement to MTV, no bands have been officially confirmed for the upcoming "Sounds Of The Underground Tour" as of yet, according to the tours organizers. Zero. Nada. Zilch. None. Whatever semblance of this information you had in your head about them on this tour, can it. At least for now. Ha. Oops. Big mistake on someone's part. Not mine, though. I'd never lie to you.
Following closely in the recently released date for Karmacode, Lacuna Coil announced that it will be trekking North America with none other than Rob Zombie. This ranks up there with those weird, fucking combinations that you'd have to see to believe (coughRHCPandSnoopDoggcough). Three dates have been confirmed:
March 18 - Miami, FL @ Bicentennial Park (Global Gathering Festival)
April 6 - Columbus, OH @ Lifestyle Communities Pavilion
April 7 - Detroit, MI @ State Theatre
Hey, Modzelewski, care to see this one? Huh? Huh? Huh? Please? Please? Please? With sugar on top? Uh, right. Anyway, the tracklisting for Karmacode has been confirmed as follows:
1. Fragile
2. To The Edge
3. Our Truth
4. Within Me
5. Devoted
6. You Create
7. What I See
8. Fragments of Faith
9. Closer
10. In Visible Light
11. The Game
12. Without Fear
13. Enjoy the Silence
The video for "Our Truth" is due to be released on Monday, March 6. And, if you haven't heard the track yet, you really need to. I'm obsessing a bit over it. I'm really happy with the direction the band has gone. Yay for this release. Yay for the sexiness of Christina Scabbia.
My favorite I-Wanna-Be-A-Communist band, Nothingface, finally, have re-launched their official website. To coincide with the re-launch, the band have released the track, "Walking on Bodies", to the masses. As I said during Week One, I'm really happy this band is back together, and it seriously looks like they have everything together. Yippee skippy! This track fucking kicks ass. Listen to "Walking on Bodies" or die a lonely death. Odds are you still will, anyway, but it's best to have good music, like Nothingface in tow. The ever-sexy Silent Civilian will be touring in support of Nothingface later this year.
Disturbed has begun to stream their video for the next single from their platinum-certified Ten Thousand Fists. "Just Stop" features a clip that was shot in Chicago and can be viewed, streaming, from mp3.com. Mmm sexy bald man. Disturbed will be on MTV's Cribs later this month.
Soundgarden has received one of the lowest awards in music: a tribute album. Black Days: Midwest Movement Tribute to Soundgarden is set to release February 21, 2006, from Midwest Movements/Tribute Sounds. It will feature 10 classic Soundgarden songs performed by a handful of the top Midwest bands. Tracklisting:
01. Destrophy - Black Hole Sun
02. Johnnyrook - Blow Up The Outside World
03 .Dayfeed - Fell On Black Days
04. Index Case - Jesus Christ Pose
05. Thirty Seconds Of Shame - Outshined
06. Bloodwilltell - Pretty Noose
07. White Knuckle Trip - Room A Thousand Years Wide
08. Casanatra - Rusty Cage
09. In A Crowded Room - Slaves And Bulldozers
10. All The Way Rider - The Day I Tried To Live
A number of shows are being scheduled to coincide with the release.
This, I think, made me a bit ill. Jerry Cantrell (ex-Alice in Chains) will be assisting Courtney Love with guitars on demos that she is putting together to follow-up her 2004 solo release. Labels are currently courting Courtney (ha, I made a pun, bitches!) after Virgin (something she's definitely not) cut her. I wish I could cut her! Cut her so bad Two words: Drug rehab.
Tantric has finished their work on the band's third studio album. Yet untitled and with no release date, they've recently filled the void at bass after Jess Vest left the band in 2004. Replacing Vest will be bassist Bruce LaFrance
Every once in a while, I see a piece of news, and I ignore it. Doesn't look interesting, or it's something I don't think you, the reader, would care much about. Well, this particular piece, I keep seeing, so I looked into a bit, and part of me is glad that I did. The only bit of news Marilyn Manson sees anymore involves his former bandmate, John 5 (ex-Manson, ex-NIN) and 5's new band Loser. Their debt album drops at the end of February, and you can scope out their first track (Windows Streaming), "Away" and like it! Has a bit of an old Stone Temple Pilots feel.
One of the directors of the rock documentary "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster" is poised to make some more noise. Bruce Sinofsky will turn his camera on Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, who recently starred in his own NBC reality show, "Tommy Lee Goes to College." The still-untitled film, in preproduction, is slated to begin shooting in the spring.
Boysetsfire's new song "Requiem" has been posted online and can be found here. The song will appear on the group's new album The Misery Index; Notes from the Plague Years. Furthermore, a video for the aforementioned track will begin airing next month. I've never been a big fan of the band, except for their track "High Wire Escape Artist," from the Daredevil OST, but the boys have really sold me on "Requiem."
Straight from Dead Poetic's website, or should I say Def Poetic: "We are extremely excited to announce that Deftones/Team Sleep frontman Chino Moreno will be producing a few songs on our upcoming album. We are huge fans of Chino and his work, and are ecstatic to have this opportunity to work with him. We will be spending 4-5 days in Sacramento in late January to record songs with Chino, and will then head straight to Seattle to record the bulk of the album with producer Aaron Sprinkle." You can listen to demo tracks "The Victim" and "Lioness" on Dead Poetic's myspace before the band enters the studio in February.
An update from the Dry Kill Logic camp. The writing is officially underway for their new album, which will follow-up 2004's The Dead and Dreaming. They've got 4 songs pretty much written, and about another 3 or 4 that are being put together, as we speak. The band says that it's going along well, and they're excited for their fans to hear it. The album is expected to have a late 2006, early 2007 release.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have finally laid a release date for their upcoming double-album, Stadium Arcadium. It will be in stores on May 8th in the U.K and May 9th in the U.S. The first single from the disc, titled "Dani California," will be going to radio in the coming months.
Mogwai have revealed the tracklisting for their hugely anticipated new album, Mr Beast. The band's latest album will hit shops on March 6th, featuring 10 tracks. It is the follow-up the critically acclaimed Happy Songs For Happy People.
Tracklisting is as follows:
01. Auto Rock
02. Glasgow Mega-Snake
03. Acid Food
04. Travel Is Dangerous
05. Team Handed
06. Friend Of The Night
07. Emergency Trap
08. Folk Death 95
09. I Chose Horses
10. We're No Here
I've had an advanced copy since the beginning of December, and I've listened to it a few times. It's not bad at all. If you like weird, instrumental rock with beautiful, melodic rhythms, it's for you.
Chimaira, fresh off a tremendously successful year that saw the release of a critically acclaimed third album and a world tour, has welcomed original drummer Andols Herrick back into the group. Yay!
I gotta pimp the hometown stuff in this column. If I didn't, music wouldn't love me anymore. An up-in-coming Pittsburgh band, Monument the Ghost is working on demos for their first album. The group just finalized their lineup, and they sound pretty solid so far. You can friend them on myspace, and, hopefully, later this week, they'll have a demo or two for listen.
Are They Still Out There or Did They Finally Overdose?
Jay and Silent Bob are (almost) back! Kevin Smith's upcoming release features Anthrax's classic track, "Among The Living," as the soundtrack for the new Clerks II movie trailer. Check it out. Being one of the many cult followers of Smith's career, I highly anticipate this movie. It looks funny. God knows I could use a few laughs.
Time to start thinking about this year's Ozzfest! No bands have been signed to the bill yet, but Avenged Sevenfold look to be the second band to be courted by the Sharon Osbourne and Co. for a slot on this year's tour. Reports state that A7X are to join fellow from Orange County rockers Atreyu.
Ozzfest 2004 alumns Every Time I Die, on the other hand, have been confirmed for the Vans Warped Tour, with several other Ozzfest bands from years past also expected to reveal their summer plans very shortly. More news soon. Maybe. Or something.
While we're on this subject, I'll follow with another Ozzfest alumn. Second stage Grade 8 have started work on their 3rd album. Keyboardist/programer Aaron Zilch (ex-American Head Charge) had this to say: "We are currently putting the finishing touches on demos for the first three new songs we have completed for our next record." Blah blah blah. Here, read this part: "I know some of you were less than blown away by "Resurrection" and that is not entirely surprising. It was a fetus. A beautifully twisted mutant fetus in a jar, but a fetus none the less We have lived, fought, bled, struggled and strived together for over two years now. Side by side, pushing for acceleration in a retarded industry." He goes on to talk about porn stars, in a strictly biblical sense, but I won't bore you with that stuff. Man, this guy is an idiot.
Rammstein could be facing legal action from an imprisoned cannibal. Yes, you read that right. Keep going. The allegations state that they used the cannibal's crime to inspire "Mein Teil" ("My Piece"). Armin Meiwes was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison for eating a man he met over the internet, and is now furious his life story has been used in the song. The man-eater escaped the maximum penalty in an earlier trial because his victim consented to be killed.
Wondering what the new Mushroomhead album is going to sound like? Front man Waylon Reavis said, recently, "Take everything you think you know and throw it out the window This album is get in the bathtub and slash your wrists. It's a very dark album. I think it expresses the times that Mushroomhead's goin' through, and I think the fans are gonna really relate to this. And just take everything you think you know, and forget it. Just keep an open mind and expect the unexpected, really." AKA Another experimental album due out this year. This release will be the band's first in three years, and the first without Stitch, who has gone onto Ventana.
TMZ.com asked Scott Weiland of Velvet Revolver how people can keep off the weight in the New Year, since Weiland is skinny as fuck. He says he doesn't do a lot, just chase his kids around and manage a heavy tour schedule while being active on stage. He does some martial arts, but mostly credits good genes. Uh, hello, HE DOES DRUGS! Velvet Revolver is expected to begin recording their sophomore effort shortly for a late 2006 release.
Whilst I'm on my I-Hate-Scott-Weiland pedestal, Hoobastank toured last year with Velvet Revolver. Singer Doug Robb recently said of Weiland, "He didn't say 'Hi' until three weeks into the tour. I don't want to get into it, because, honestly, it's not even worth my time. There are people like that, and then there are normal people. Four of the five guys (in Velvet Revolver) were the coolest, most down-to-earth guys ever. But one guy in the band was just in his own world." HE WAS TOO HIGH TO NOTICE THAT YOU WEREN'T A PIECE OF FURNITURE!
You love Gwar! Why don't you join the band?! And why don't you buy their action figures? Shocker Toys has announced that they will be producing Gwar action figures. These 6-8 inch figurines are set to include Oderus Urungus, Flattus Maximus, Beefcake the Mighty, Jizmak Da Gusha and Balsac the Jaws of Death. Figures will retail for around $15 and will be available at specialty stores and mass retailers in summer of 2006.
Further down the food chain, Robert Flynn of Machine Head recently released a post on the band's forum, talking about the new record, its sound, and whether or not he thinks they can top "Imperium." You can read it all, in its juicy goodness, whenever you'd like.
As my closing news bit, I think you should all read this. If you're a fan of Cold, they're asking all of you to please, please, pick up a copy of A Different Kind of Pain, if you haven't already. It's a truly awesome CD, so please go to Amazon.com or Best Buy and do yourself a musical favor. A sexy favor. The band needs our support, and as a human being, we should support those things we love! Plus, the lead singer has a cool name: Scooter. If that's not enough of a reason to buy the album, I don't know what is.
This Band Earns the Benjamin Czajkowski Stamp of Approval (BCSA)
Every week, I will feature a band that I heavily endorse, thus giving it the BCSA. This week's band is as deserving as the other two featured. One of the newest bands to sign to the ever-growing Road Runner Records, Faktion have revealed their first e-card, which features two songs from their upcoming, self-titled, debut album "Always Wanting More", and the band's first single "Take It All Away" which is impacting rock radio now. You can download their EP, which I highly recommend, from their website or check them out on myspace. Faktion's debut album is set to hit stores March 21st.
The Stuff I Can't Put Down (Like Scott Weiland and His Heroin)
5. Screaming Monkey Boner - The Process of Assimilation
4. Flyleaf - Flyleaf
3. Static-X Start A War
2. She Wants Revenge She Wants Revenge
1. Underworld: Evolution OST
MY BIG FUCKING NEWS!
Amy Lee (Evanescence) and Shaun Morgan (Seether) broke up! Hot damn. It's about time. The two ugliest people in the music business have no...business being together. Reportedly, the break up was amicable, but I know Shaun wanted to find a better piece of ass. Next week's column will see my first in a long series of music-related rants, and guess what, it involves Amy Lee.
Seriously, that's the piece of news that was so big...
It's A Problem to Just Quit, So I'll End With This
Just remember, folks, everything you read in this column is real, unlike South Korea's cloning experiments. You can't clone material like this, anyway. It's too unstable, like me! If you haven't seen how angry I look on myspace, you're missing out. Until next time: peace, love, and apathy. BC
