Stoner Rock Kind of Week

For those that don't know much about Stoner Rock, it was a term coined in the early 90s, and I mean, the music is self explanatory, hahaha.  However, if you want more of a description, most bands take the Black Sabbath approach with their riffs incorporating fuzzy guitar tones, the singing is throaty/singing for the most part, heavy, thick bass lines, and grooving drums.  You could also say that Stoner Rock is influenced by 60s and 70s rock with a more modern sound to it; hence, giving it a genre name.  Also, some have gone by the tag, Desert Rock because bands coined "Stoner Rock" originated in the desert of California (i.e. Kyuss as a prime example).  Well, being on a Kyuss kick, and want to get the rest of the world into some, sweet delicious riffs, here are some of my favorites:

Halfway to Gone (USA)

http://youtu.be/i8jGD0jZQHQ

Sasquatch (USA)

http://youtu.be/XMGvaQojM6s

Roachpowder (Sweden)

http://youtu.be/OvPaBORwUdc

Dozer (Sweden)

http://youtu.be/CqeXk7MEg_M

More to come throughout the week, but this should quench your thirst!  And thank you Chad for showing me stoner rock over 8 years ago!

Road Trip

Well, I made it back safe and it was a hell of a ride.  So, basically what I did was drove all the way down to Texas, and then back to Michigan.  I made a few stops along the way, I got to see my Aunt and Uncle in Driftwood, TX, and then I got to see some old friends in Chicago, IL.  If there is one thing I can say about traveling by yourself, it gives you a lot of time to think.  Whether it is the past, present, or future, it was constantly on my mind.  And the last two years, they have not been what I like to consider great years.  Sure, some of awesome things did happen throughout these years, but overall, the bad outweighed the good in my opinion.  Well, now it has started having a toll on my well-being, and I am in the "who am I?" phase in my life.  I hate this stupid garbage, but it happens to all of us at some point.  Well, the conclusion that I came to while traveling was I need to move, I need to change my direction, and I need to do something different for a little while.  Change is good, and I have been ready for a long time, but I have just let myself stay stagnant for too long.  Now, it isn't going to be overnight, but it is going to sooner than later.

However, before I make this next step, I have decided that I must create a project that defines what the last two years have been like, and close that chapter of my life properly.  I must be ambitious, work-hard, and make something out of it; so, I have documentation of this time period.  So, I plan on calling the project, The Great Escape, and it is going to have elements of post-rock/doom/stoner/the cure/depeche mode.  Well, I really don't know how it is going to turn out yet, but this is the vision that I have.  Encouragement is welcome, and I know I need to do this.  I am going to push hard to make it happen.  For those that read this, thank you and hope you enjoyed it.

Your pal,

Steve

Top 10 albums to Bring on a Road Trip

Well, this week, I took upon myself to drive down south alone in a two day trek.  First day, I drove for 13 hours, and the second, I drove for about 9 hours.  And I never remember before on a road trip having to piss as much as I had, but it could have been the coffee, the energy drinks, and the powerade, however, every two hours, come on!  Anyway, back to the story, it is essential that you have plenty of music, which I probably brought over 50 CDs with me just in case.  The ones that definitely made this trip a satisfying trip were (not in any particular order):

1.  Kyuss - Welcome to Sky Valley
2.  Down - NOLA
3.  Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
4.  Orchid - Capricorn
5.  In Solitude - The World, The Flesh, The Devil
6.  Ghost - Opus Eponymous
7.  Graveyard - Hisengen Blues
8.  King Diamond - Abigail (at night)
9.  Electric Wizard - Dopethrone
10.  YOB - The Great Cessation (any YOB really)

I know it is mostly metal, but trust me, it makes great driving music!  Ps.  Never listen to Decapitated during rush hour in Dallas traffic.  That was chaos.

Band of the Day

Iron Monkey.  Iron Monkey is a sludge band from England that came to a halt when their vocalist died.  They have 2 albums, Iron Monkey and Our Problem.  Highly recommended is Our Problem.  Whether you are sober, angry, or just in the mood that requires slow, heavy riffs, pummeling/caveman like drums, and vomiting-induced screaming, this album is for you.  Disclaimer: Do not listen to this band while drunk on whiskey, it will lead to fights, holes in walls, broken glass, the whole nine.  However, if you do want that, then, well, this band will do it for you as well.  Check out the link below!

Iron Monkey - Bad Year