Face Off 02.24.09: Wherein Mike and Randy Discuss New Albums
Posted by Michael Adler on 02.24.2009
Limp Bizkit, Queensryche, U2, Cornell, and even Wilco have new albums out! What do we think? Read on.
Mike opines:This week we'll discuss some upcoming projects for the rest of the year. There seems to be lots going on.
First I want to tackle the recent new of a Limp Bizkit reunion. Now, it's easy to jump on the bandwagon and put down Limp Bizkit. Quite a few columnists have done it already. But I want to be original, so let's come up with some good things about Limp Biscuit (I know I'm sacrificing accuracy by spelling it like that, but I won't sacrifice my dignity anymore. Bizkit is just ridiculous.) and their upcoming reunion/possible new album.
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Right, let's come up with something positive.
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As I was saying, it's so easy to bash Limp Biscuit, there's got to be something positive to say about them...Fred Durst was really awesome when he made that cameo appearance as a playable character in Smackdown: Just Bring it. There we go-wrestling video games everywhere will benefit from the return of Limp Biscuit.
In the near future we have two albums coming out: Chris Cornell's and U2's. Chris Cornell's horror show (Scream) has been discussed previously, but with its release looming on March 3rd, just a few short weeks from now, it might be worth it to get a fresh perspective on it. I'm listening to what's out there, and I'm still convinced it's going to be terrible. I think "Watch Out" has actually gotten stupider and more juvenile since the last time I listened to it. Let us all mourn the Chris Cornell we knew who put out great music. On the other hand, U2's new release, No Line On the Horizon (March 10th), will be brilliant. Well, it has the potential to be awful since I haven't heard anything else, but "Get Your Boots On", other than having a bland title, is a great song.
March 31st sees the release of Queensryche'sAmerican Soldier which I think might be the greatest thing ever. I'm not a huge Queensryche fan, and I can barely even remember that Geoff Tate is the lead singer, but I think the concept behind this album is brilliant. Most of the time, a heavy metal band writes a song about war, and it comes off as ridiculous because they don't have experience in war. E.G. Lars Ulrich certainly has never gone to war. Kirk Hammet...well don't ask don't tell. etc. and apply that to Metallica, Megadeth et.al. But Geoff Tate has spent the last year or so actually interviewing soldiers for the album. We might have the most authentic batch of heavy metal songs about war since "Rooster". They plan on supporting it with the American Soldier tour which will have three suites of music which isn't obnoxious or pretentious at all.
Finally, let us all hope for new Alice in Chains material this summer, as it could happen. They have been recording new material with William Duvall. I would predict this one would be the top album of the year if it gets released. Some people might be satisfied to go to a concert and just hear their greatest hits, but not I. Duvall is a very competent Layne Stayley replacement, and I'm very interested to hear their new material. If they do write some stuff, its quality will help to prove or disprove my theory that Layne was in fact the brains behind the band. Have you heard Cantrell's solo work? Terrible. On the other hand, Alice in Chains were versatile in their prime, so it's possible that Cantrell just made his solo work sound awful for artistic reasons. Just a thought.
Your most anticipated albums? Randy re-opines:OK, I'm going to follow the example you tried to set with Limp Biscuit, and I'm going to stay positive. Ok, here we go.
Good things about Limp Biscuit reuniting:
- I really like the color red. So, I'm looking forward to Fred Durst's red hat again.
- More killer guitar solos:
- The monkey dance from the "Rollin" video is so stupid, it becomes cool, then loops around to being stupid again (wait, was that a good thing?)
- Down-tuned guitar riffs. Maybe they'll finally catch on this time, and we'll get some sort of veritable "new" metal.
OK, see? That's not so bad.
On to Chris Cornell's Scream. Now, see, this is the album we've been waiting for. The album cover features Cornell smashing a guitar. See, guitars are really cliche and music made with them is passe, so Cornell is really blazing a trail and announcing he's leaving behind that boring, predictable rock music for dance pop. He has a really fun mustache in the Scream video and a funky hair cut - so it's OK for young people to like him! I have a copy of Thriller on LP. I'm going to throw it out and then get a copy of Chris Cornell's Scream.
U2's new album will clearly be the greatest album of all time. Bono's stance on politics isn't pretentious at all. Through Bono, I've learned about how horrible it is in Africa and how to sound really menacing while saying "Apartheid". If the next album mentions starving black children at any point in time, it will be amazing. Remember, there's no problem that can't be solved with the Harlem Choir singing a U2 song about it!
And I'll finish by talking about Queenrsyche's American Soldier, which may be the greatest collection of matter ever assembled in the universe. Now, sure, they again had to bring in a bunch of outside writers. And, sure, it's the first time they ever recorded an album with only one guitarist. And, yes, on the tour, the second guitarist will be a douchey looking 18 year old who just happens to be doing Geoff Tate's daughter. But, uh....ok...give me a second...I got it. When do concept albums ever go wrong? Especially those that are well-reseasrched? If I recall correctly, before writing Killroy Was Here, Dennis DeYoung flew to an alien robot colony, was taken hostage, and escaped to play a rock n' roll show. And of course, Killroy Was Here was the standard by which all concept albums were judged. Until now. Maybe, with American Soldier, we'll figure out why life is worth living and finally have a reason to criticize the government. Mike re-reopines: Downtuned guitar riffs, are lower and thus sound angry. Perfect for Limp Biscuit. You left out how cool Wes Borland's masks are. Wes isn't sure about his future with the band, but maybe they'll reunite long-term, learn from past mistakes and put out a good record. Remaining positive here.
You summed up Cornell pretty well. I'll further your sentiments by suggesting we gather all of our old Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, and Audioslave cds, take a dump on them and then burn them to usher in the new era of Cornell style hip-hop. Scream indeed. Seriously though, he should be ashamed of himself. Kim Thayil is in a Cinnabon somewhere crying right now.
As for U2, I really think they get way too much flak. It's a given that Bono has a tendency to be in your face and preachy, but he's making a sincere effort to bring attention to a problem. Compare that with other celebrities such as Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt who adopt a few black children from Africa and call it a day. THERE'S MILLIONS MORE TO ADOPT!
Anyway, let me finish this up by bringingg up a true menace no one seems to want to talk about: 2009 might see the release of a new Wilco album. Fuck no. Seriously...just no. But you know what's great? I finally have some irrefutable proof that Wilco sucks. In the past, any time I've dared touch sacred cow Wilco, people have jumped on me and proclaimed: "You don't know what you're talking about!" (which is true in most cases) "Wilco are awesome!" "They're one of the best bands ever!"
Guess what folks? Jeff Tweedy himself, lead singer of Wilco, in a recent interview has stated that he "kinda hates" Wilco's last six albums. If the LEAD SINGER of the band hates the work, we have a problem. And we're not just talking about one or two missteps along the band's career. He hates the whole catalog of work. I feel vindicated. Now to put this in context, he added he's not feeling them at this point in his life. This makes me wonder at what point in one's life someone would be "feeling" a Wilco album. I mean the only point in my life where I think I could be convinced it would make worthy listening would be if I were falsely imprisoned in Southeast Asia and I was given the opportunity to attain freedom via listening to Wilco albums. Then my attitude would be that they're pretty rockin'. God, I hate Wilco. (But thank you Jeff Tweedy, for proving what I've been saying for years!)
I still abstinately declare American Solider will be Queensryche's best album. Here's to hoping for some additional tour dates co-headline with Queens of the Stone Age and Queen+ Paul Rogers. That'd be awesome. Randy has a final opine: Well, Wilco DOES suck pretty hard, so good to see that they aren't delusional.
Excellent call on the "Queens" tour package. Opening, of course, will be Machine Head.
So, 2009 is shaping up to be a fairly mediocre year for music, save for the new AIC release, and Chinese Democracys 2 through 14. Here's hoping Guns n' Roses tours with Alice In Chains, Metallica, Eagles of Death Metal, The Eagles, Doves, The Animals, Lamb of God, and T-Rex for the greatest package of all time.
And there you have it. As it turns out 2009 might be awful. Join us next week when we discuss William Shatner and how he'll single-handedly save rock music.
Mike opines:This week we'll discuss some upcoming projects for the rest of the year. There seems to be lots going on.
