Queensryche ousts singer Geoff Tate
It appears Geoff Tate has been tossed from Queensryche due to “creative differences.” Check out the article right HERE:
Now hair metal castrati, this band really has no purpose existing anymore. I mean, it was hard enough knowing Chris DeGarmo wasn’t playing with them anymore, but Geoff? Is there anybody listening??? No… There is nobody listening from now on. No Tate, No Ryche. Bummer.
Abject “Try Again!” – self release
Abject is NYHC through and through. After my fourth listen in an hour, I’m diggin’ this album a whole lot! Clocking in at just over 16 minutes, “Try Again!” is 9-tracks born of beer, barroom brawls, and George Carlin’s unique take on society. Politics be damned… This is music to get in a fight to after a night of hard drinking. “What are you lookin’ at?”
I met guitarist Mattakins once in NYC. We got to a bar in Astoria to talk music at around 4pm, left at 10pm, and had drinks in our hands the whole time. It was a fun night, followed by one hell of a hangover. Grad school be damned, I wasn’t able to commit to any projects at that time, but I’m glad to know Craigslist isn’t just for hookers and shitty job opportunities.
Full of the crunchy guitars you’d expect, the album offers some excellent builds into ripping old school hardcore beats. The gruff, raspy vocals compliment the sound well, and the frenetic energy they bring to the recording makes up for any technical issues. I mean… It was probably recorded next to a keg, anyway.
Hilarious titles like “SUV Tard” and “Popped Collar Broken Nose” should give you an idea that Abject’s contempt for mainstream society’s trendy consumerism and fashion sense is not to be taken lightly, in a lighthearted way.
Best taken straight up with no chaser, Abject is great!
Big Leg Emma “Revival” Album Review
I’ll say it upfront… This album is very, very good! “Revival,” the latest offering from Jamestown, NY’s Big Leg Emma, is 12 tracks of amazing Bluegrass/Folk/Rock songs that dig right in and make you listen. I am not sure why this is my first exposure to the group, but it certainly will not be the last.
Tapped as one of the headliners for this year’s Fiddler’s Picnic in June, the sextet are all furious musicians with a clear vision of what they want to write, and how to play it well. This is one of the densest, cleanest recordings I have listened to all year… The songs work very nicely with one and other and make for a superb listening feel.
“Revival” offers a great mix of upbeat and mellow tracks, wielding a wide range of emotionality that can cater to just about any mood. The vocal harmonies really shine on this album… “The Real You” is probably my favorite track (so far… I’ll be listening again and again) and the musicianship of this band, the dynamic range, and the chops they bring to “Revival” are fantastic! I feel fortunate to find out about Big Leg Emma just as they re-enter the performance world after a 2-year hiatus.
Here’s to an excellent second wave for B.L.E.!!! Come get a glimpse and have some fun with them at Fiddler’s Picnic in June!
