Killer hooks, killer riffage, killer band indeed…

Talk about being pleasantly surprised….Lacuna Coil’s 5th album is arguably one of their best- terrific songs, all bringing a heavy impact to the mix- with down-tuned riffs encompassing the whole.

Yes Cristina brings a lot of moxy to the front lines- terrific singing with a true passion to all of the songs…but you definitely can’t overlook the heavy duo guitar combination of Cristiano Migliore and Marco Biazzi- they definitely punch up the songs with a heavy flavor that leaves you wanting more… A lot of thought went into the production, the “clean-ness” of the sound and the overall concept of the album, dwelling in superficiality and just plain bullshit that we are naturally up against.

I like how overall, the band delves deep into the songs, adding key interplay, even when it appears, at least on paper, that it could all be just mundane- or “been there, done that”. Absolutely positively not the case at all, and of course most of the accolades must go to Cristina, her dynamic vocal range dexterity and interpretation of the lyric being absolutely riveting to listen to…even over repeated listens..

I believe it unfair to continue to lump this band into the gothic rock, or heavy gothic rock genre- this brings to mind Evanescence and Amy Lee for that matter- and in no way is Lacuna Coil anything like them at all-PERIOD.

You’ve got to like the spirit and passion of this band…maybe the close-knit feel springs from their Italian roots..whatever- they are a damn good band writing damn good songs…go enjoy!!

So I’m in one of my favorite newstands, in the Music section, and I come across the latest edition of Mojo, a terrific music publication out of the UK, and I look through the table of contents to the music review section, and see this title: “Depeche Mode delivers another clunker.” I immediately start laughing out loud, because without even hearing the songs on the album, except for “Wrong”, I feel relaxed, and not anxiety ridden on what to expect before the album actually comes out. I get worked up before an album from one of my favorite artist’s comes out, usually just hoping for great expectations, good songwriting and such…

I have to say that even though it’s not another “clunker”, it’s nothing earth-shaking either…it starts off fair enough, with a blippy intro going into “In Chains”, with Dave Gahan singing mournfully and seductively as always…but I want something more…I want to hear this band dance and swing like I know they can..good driving music with a steady backbeat…this is what is in my head prior to hearing the actual album…instead I’m hearing slowed down keyboard arrangements, except for a handful of tunes, like “Wrong”, and “Fragile Tension”…”In Sympathy” is quite captivating…but-but…I don’t know..I’ve listened to the album in its enirety 4 times now over the past week, thinking maybe I’ve got it wrong, or listening with an open mind…yet, I can’t get that phrase out of my head: “Another Clunker”..

One Day As a Lion, are band members, and superstars in their own rights, Zach de la Rocha better know for Rage against the Machine, and Jon Theodore drummer for The Mars Volta.

It’s really hard to not listen to a band fronted by de la Rocha without thinking about Rage Against the Machine, this being both a good thing for RATM and a bad thing for de la Rocha. The voice and attitude is the same, the band backing him is not.

My fanatical views of Rage Against the Machine aside, I call this a buy, you can never go wrong with listening to Zach put his heart and soul ( and anger? ) into his song and Jon Theodore on the drums is just as amazing and doesn’t let the power of Zach overshadow him.

Links:

One Day as a Lion
Myspace

WE ARE EXCITED!! YAY TO RAGE – YAY TO NINE INCH NAILS – YAY TO WILCO – YAY TO RADIOHEAD – YAY TO THE RACONTEURS!!!!

Fortunately, there are a LOT of more-than-noteworthy acts to experience. Here are some of the others we are looking forward to, and some of the songs that grabbed our attention:

The Black Keys (Friday 8/1 4:15) – “Psychotic Girl” – Attack & Release

Battles (Saturday 8/2 6:30) – “Atlas” “Prismism”- Mirrored

MGMT (Saturday 8/2 3:30) – “Electric Feel” “Time To Pretend” – Oracular Spectacular

The Gutter Twins (Saturday 8/2 2:30) – “Idle Hands” – Saturnalia

Saul Williams (Sunday 8/3 5:00) – “Sunday Bloody Sunday” (yes, cover of the U2 classic) – but from an album called The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust…it definitely got our attention (in a good way).

Oh and YAY for the return of old musical friends!

Toadies ( Saturday 8/2 7:30)

Love and Rockets (Sunday 8/3 6:15)

Other acts we wish would be making an appearance:

Vampire Weekend

Grand Ole Party

She & Him

Rilo Kiley

The Bees

Peter Bjorn & John

Trent Reznor’s Nine Inch Nails have released a new album for free to their fans. only days after releasing their single, which he gave out almost immediately after finalizing the mix. It seems like Trent is trying to make a statement to the record labels, that an artist can create and be successful through the internet, and in doing so maybe he, along with Radiohead and other artists following in their footsteps, will be changing the way the medium is distributed and promoted.

Nine Inch Nails has 20 plus years in the industry, and show no signs of ever slowing down, creating music that different generations since their inception have loved and rocked out to. As one of the legion of fans I don’t know if I can be completely objective but I will try.
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