So I bought this album by a band named Wolfmother on a lark, and right now I am cranking Where Eagles Have Been, and I feel like I am 13 years old again listening to Yes-Relayer on the cassette player in my bedroom while reading Lord Foul’s Bane by Stephen R. Donaldson.
I guess consider this an open thread, but I am just shocked this is a band from the late 2000’s. Holy loads of flashbacks, batman.
TheFountainHead
Wolfmother is excellent. My boss listens to them on a daily basis. They are from Australia or New Zealand if I’m not mistaken.
montysano
For more flashback action, try out the Raconteurs, which features Jack White of White Stripes fame. I haven’t heard the new one yet, but the first, “Broken Boy Soldiers”, is very Zeppelin-esque in places.
But it ain’t no “Relayer” …. 8-)
Jill
They sound like Zepellin, the vocals are a direct rip off of Plant.
flyerhawk
Lord Foul’s Bane? I never looked at white gold the same after reading that series. Talk about one of the great anti-heroes.
flyerhawk
The new Raconteurs is OUTSTANDING. The song Rich Kid’s Blues sounds almost Who-like.
The new Black Crowes continues their sound that hasn’t changed much at all in 20 years.
The new Black Keys is a real departure from their previous albums. I can’t figure out if I love or hate it. Having DJ Danger Mouse produce a classic blues rock band was certainly daring.
taoless
you should also check out midlake and black mountain.
Ned Raggett
Wolfmother is just scratching the surface. (And I gotta be frank, while they’re fun enough, I don’t think of them as much as I do other bands — then again I am employed to be a music geek, at least in part.) Offhand I’d recommend:
FarFlung
Bardo Pond
Kinski
The Black Angels
Mammatus
UFOMammut
And believe me there’s more. A LOT more. Don’t get me started if you don’t want me to!
Ned Raggett
you should also check out midlake and black mountain
Yeah, agreed on Black Mountain, definitely. Early Comets on Fire. (Stepping away a bit: Six Organs of Admittance. Ilyas Ahmed. Alela Diane. Yellow6.) Monster Magnet (remember them?). I’m free-skying at this point, point is that psych/spacerock/prog all of sorts never died, it just transmogrified into different paths. Everyone should just come to Terrastock in June.
Ned Raggett
(There’s an earlier post of mine linking bands that is awaiting moderation — John, please free it up! I’m trying to give music to the people! That the bands want people to hear!)
Billy K
Not really.
Jamey
“Buying” music? Lord Foul’s Bane? Yes?
The Dork-o-Meter needle just jumped off the dial…
Mr Furious
If you want some flashbacks, that new Raconteurs album is definitely the ticket. White can crunch with any 70s guitar hero, and they threw a LOT of organ in there this time—plenty of Triumph and Styx* moments.
*And I mean that in a good way, even if you can’t imagine it.
Buck
Somebody please tell me that this is bullshit before I waste money on it.
Billy K
Are you sure?
Mr Furious
If you haven’t heard it, John, the first Rac album (“Broken Boy Soldiers”) is probably my favorite album from the last ten years.
Highly recommended. And the new one (“Consolers of the Lonely”) is strong too. In fact, I promised a review…better get on that.
Mr Furious
It’s bullshit.
calipygian
Oh. My. God.
Is there any question that atheists are a second class citizen in this country? I served 20 years in the military. I have to admit that the only time I ever faced discrimination as an atheist is a couple of times where a Chaplain prayed in Jesus’ name at an invocation I was forced to attend.
No one ever told me that I was unfit to serve just because I was an atheist until today.(There were many other reasons for my unfitness, but that is another couple of stories).
I served my country because I love America and the ideals upon which it was founded. Once it becomes “Christian America uber alles”, then we’re in deep shit. I’ll fight for America against people that fly planes into our buildings. I wont fight for Jesus against some twisted fucks twisting the words of the Prophet Mohammed.
Its all assinine superstition to me.
Incertus
calipygian,
I can’t say I’m surprised, but that’s because I live in a state (considered a swing state by many) that’s actively trying to put creationism in the classroom. And no, it’s not one in the middle of the country either.
Joshua Norton
The new Air Force motto is “Above All”. How much closer to “Uber Alles” can they get?
eglenn
“Leper! Outcast! Unclean!”
Lord, those were some harsh-my-mellow books.
My age-adjusted comparables were “Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road” and LOTR.
dj spellchecka
for something that mixes loud and odd, try the new mars volta album. anyone else agree?
Andrew
Buck, please send me a check for $25 and I will tell you whether or not it is bullshit. This unlimited time offer could save you as much as $25 dollars!
Grand Moff Texan
How the fuck were you ever a Republican?
.
Ned Raggett
I figure if a band puts music on its myspace site but the bandmembers don’t want people to hear it, then that’s a good art project but not a good promotional tool.
Grand Moff Texan
They sound like Zepellin, the vocals are a direct rip off of Plant.
Really? He sounds more like Marc Bolan to me, especially in the vibrato.
.
Grand Moff Texan
Try Clutch and Primordial Undermind.
.
OniHanzo
Apologies if someone’s posted this before but this infuriates the fuck out of me.
Is there anything the Bush administration HASN’T lowered the bar on?
“We’re up to our armpits in human shit, you moron!”
“Well…at least we’re not up our noses.” **cheap salesman smile**
DFH no.6
So, Jamey, paying artists for their work today, and having one such creation elicit nostalgic feelings of books read and music enjoyed 30 years ago makes John (and, obviously, anyone like him) a dork. A ginormous one at that, apparently.
Man, if we could only be as cool as you. Tell us — what hipper-than-thou shit were you into back in ’78? It will only make us feel dorkier to find out, I know, but we’re used to it.
Ned Raggett
Seconding Primordial Undermind. Very happy to have caught them live some years back, still making great albums.
Crusty Dem
Yep, Buck, that is most definitely bullshit. “Oxyhydrogen” or Brown’s gas, or whatever the fuck they want to call it is just hydrogen/oxygen gas combined. You can make it from hydrolyzing water with electricity, but there’s no magic way to it, you only get out the energy you put in (actually less, unless you’re planning on violating the laws of thermodynamics). If you did happen to make it oxyhydrogen, you would most likely blow your ass up.
Amusingly, it is actually possible to run an old diesel engine on water (allegedly, maybe we need to get mythbusters to try it..). Supposedly, when the engine is good and hot you can replace the diesel with water, and the engine can run for up to an hour. The water reacts with the iron in the engine, causing it to oxidize (rust) and releasing heat, turning the water to steam to power the pistons. At the end of that time, your engine will be a large chunk or rust, never to run again. I doubt this would work with a newer engine, but it’s an old myth that’s at least theoretically possible (unlike the magical perpetual water engine, which is just bullshit).
But don’t feel too bad about getting suckered by this website, an Indian conman managed to get an news article into the scientific journal Nature touting a “tea” he could brew from certain herbs and grasses that would power a gasoline engine. Turned out he just had a hidden fuel tank he utilized to make it appear the engine ran with his special elixir. And don’t get me started on the whole “cold fusion” fiasco. Energy-related stuff happens to bring out the cons, liars, cheats and idiots; just look at our current president (and vice-president).
Ben
Came into this thread to recommend Clutch, as well as The Sword, which might be a little too metal…talk about a band that would call a song “Lord Foul’s Bane” though.
Jess
Awww, John–you’re so cute when you’re being a geek!
Crusty Dem
Ugh. Grammar bad.
Ned Raggett
Hahah, OTM. I am pleased to see the old guard keeping things going though — have you heard about Judas Priest’s new double CD concept album Nostradamus? Now there’s a band that will never go gently into that good night.
DFH no.6
Mars Volta, definitely. And Primordial Undermind!
How about Sigur Ros?
DrDave
It was up on Obsidian Wings on Friday; it’s a fucking outrage. If that was the best the Army can do, they should put the troops up in a Holiday Inn until appropriate facilities can be provided on base.
DrDave
John:
Check out Crack the Sky. This album is from 1975 and is still a fantastic listen.
Coincidentally, the lead guitar player owns a recording studio in your neck of the woods. (Studio L in Weirton, WV)
Crusty Dem
Seriously, OniHanzo and DrDave, I read that at Obsidian Wings, that is some fucked up repugnant shit. Can’t we have summary court-martial for the civilian ass clowns (or military ass clowns, whoever is responsible) in charge of this?
I’m sure if it is a civilian, he’s the type of “patriot” who never forgets his flag pin…
vwcat
sigh. sorry but, I am into the blues. big.
Now talk some Muddy or Hooker or even Stevie Ray or Buddy and I’m in heaven.
Zifnab
Yeah, remind me again about how the army is going to totally vote Republican this year around?
p.a.
Woo. It’s not just a blog, it’s a wayback machine! Yes was my first concert, 1974 age 15. Relayer was about when Yes started to lose me, although it was an improvement on Tales from Topographic Oceans– it was later, right? Bought Close to the Edge a few years ago, listened twice and gave it away. Sometimes you can’t go home again.
I will check out some of the bands named above; I have begun to listen to the local college radio stations again after a long hiatus. There seems to have developed a nice diversity of styles, many echoing the 60’s and 70’s. Nice change from every band sounding like Creed or the latest angst-riddled screamer. (To plagiarize Dave Barry; what a great name for a band!)
myiq2xu
If someone really came up with a way to run a car on water they wouldn’t have to advertise it.
I, on the other hand, can sell you the secret to making $1,000 a day over the internet.
I’m selling the secret for the low, low price of $1,000
Martin
OMG. You are the people that my 10 year old son mocks when we’re talking about the effectiveness of marketing.
He’s 10 and he’s mocking you. Seriously. You want me to send him over so he can explain to you how that thing is bullshit?
Wilfred
Cole’s favorite neocon tells it like it really was:
And he was the one in the middle.
cbear
fixt.
Some of us had other priorities at that age.
OriGuy
I’m listening to DeVotchKa and Gogol Bordello.
cleek
yeahyeah, The Sword is good.
Wolfmother is soooo 70’s i couldn’t believe they weren’t a parody. but, they aren’t. they put on a hell of a show, too. they make a lot of noise for just three guys.
Martin
Hadn’t seen this run by:
Secrets of BSG Last Supper?
srv
John,
You did know that Yes will be on tour this summer?
Ned R.
DeVotchKa definitely are wonderful. Gogol Bordello I admire but I’d recommend Firewater a bit more. As for newish bands, Black Fortress of Opium are right up there. Dale Watson shames most of what can be called ‘country’ because he’s a thousand times better than the industry will allow. Etc. etc.
mikefromtexas
For anyone with an interest in world music, check out an acoustic guitarist from Mali named Habib Koite. He uses an unusual tuning style on his box and has a very hypnotic voice.
Ned R.
That reminds me, Group Doueh from Mauritania is another recent favorite. Dude and his family, playing together for decades, just released their first formal album. YouTube clip here gives a taste of it.
4jkb4ia
I am impressed that Mr. Cole was listening to “Relayer” if he is at all close to my age. Even KSHE had restricted their Yes playlist to “Roundabout”, “I See All Good People”, “Owner of A Lonely Heart”, and “Leave It” by 1985.
I owned 90125. By the time I was 13 Dire Straits was the greatest band in the world.
4jkb4ia
My husband was the one who was into Madonna. I cannot explain it either.
cleek
also in the same vein, Boubacar Traore and Ali Farka Toure.
Voice of Reason
Welcome to middle age, John. Please drive carefully.
Gus
First time I heard Wolfmother, I thought it was a Sabbath tune.
Mutaman
“I feel like I am 13 years old again listening to Yes-Relayer
You can’t make this stuff up.
Conservatively Liberal
Headline News!
82 year old white Jewish woman calls Obama ‘ Boy…‘ to his face at a rally!
Carry on. ;)
p.a.
Speaking of world music, how about Celtic music from Spain sung in a Portuguese dialect? Check out Susana Seivane and Millaroiro on youtube, and google ‘music of Galicia’.
"Fair and Balanced" Dave
I definitely second that recommendation. I listened to my old LP copy of “Safety in Numbers” not long ago. I had forgotten how good it was. “Safety in Numbers” and “Animal Notes” are available as a “two-fer” now, I just ordered my copy.
BTW, Crack The Sky is still around and performing. They are headlining the Rites of Spring Festival (ROSFest) in Philadelphia next Sunday.
chiggins
White Gold Wielder! No shit! Glad I was sitting down, I got vertigo from the flashback…
Aratus
I had a serious flashback on that one. I love Wolfmother, and for me it was King Crimson and Conan, not to mention tons of Yes and Elric of Melnibone.
I read all the Thomas Covenant books in one go in the 8th grade and I think it made me the person I am today. whether that’s a good or bad thing is up for argument…
LITBMueller
Yea! Wolfmother! Awesome Aussie rock!! The nice thing about being married to an Aussie is that my Aussie in-laws send me CDs before they ever hit the states. I’ve been rocking to “Collosal” cranked to 11 in my car for a long time now!
The other great Aussie band I’ve been pushing is Eskimo Joe – they are not a hard rock band – a bit more like Coldplay.
CWD
Here’s some geek for ya:
I had a language revalation at 12 or 13 while reading Lord Foul’s Bane.
Vitriol! The evil eyles subteranean sorcers all had these staffs that flung vitriol. I expereinced some cognative dissonance as I tried to figure out the usefullness of a magic staff that said insulting things about your enemies. I realized from context that vitriol had to also be something else.
I looked it up and was then puzzled as to why you would want some bugger at the point of your wedge flinging acid at your enemies right before you charged them – aren’t you going to end up wearing it too?
JimH
My people! You’re here! ;-)
Doc Nebula
13 years old and reading LORD FOUL’S BANE? Good Lord, man, you’re MY age. Congrats.
I never went much for Yes-Relayer, though.