02.26.08
24_SoundByte: Eyes Set to Kill
_If I spend money on CDs that I then review on my blog, does that constitute a tax write off?
Eyes Set to Kill
Reach
BreakSilence Records
_This is honestly one of the best CDs I’ve heard in a long time. Eyes Set to Kill has all the stylings and trappings of some horrible band like Flyleaf, the guitar and drum work of some of the best hardcore ad metal acts around, and Paramore’s vocals. It all sounds like a horrible collision of sounds, but it works, which is the amazing part.
_The style is hard to describe, as it swings, due to all the influences listed above. It’s hard to listen to this CD and not be reminded of any of a number of very good hardcore, metal and alternative acts. Songs like the title track, Reach and Where We Started drift towards the rock/alternative field, but harder songs like Darling pull it back towards metal and hardcore. The brilliance of it all is that it’s impossible to say the band is strictly one or the other. I suppose, if you forced me to define them, I would call them PopHardcore. Which sounds worse than it is.
_All in all, the CD is a complete joy ride. The lyrics are a little weak and cliche, but that’s the biggest problem this CD has and even then the lyrics are totally bearable. It makes me want to mosh, want to sing, want to play guitar and head bang. It’s energetic and fun, but driving and heavy too. Very well rounded stuff. I would give it only three stars, since it’s not that perfect, just a lot of fun, but the more I listen to it and the more I sense this band’s potential to annihilate on their second CD, I have to add one more star, giving it 4 out of 5.
- Kid
02.18.08
23_Incoming Signals: Beatbots
_Baltimore is a bit of a strange town when it comes to the arts. Take music for instance. Baltimore has the charm and quirk to be home to an amazingly eclectic and interesting music scene and it for some reason is not. Most of the bands around here are borring and simplistic 90s style jam bands or fusion bands who market to the 99.1 crowd. Even worse, most of the highschool bands, the next generation, are just as borring.
_So, it’s refreshing to find the very awesome and interesting contemporary media outlet that is Beatbots. This site offers a large selection of prose, poetry and other features from a staff of contributors that are all relatively young (mostly 20 somethings) and relatively local (mostly D.C. and Baltimore and the surrounding areas). I haven’t gotten a chance to read through the prose section from front to back, but I will say it’s a shame that Christie Church only has two stories up. She’s wonderful.
_Now that you have a place to start reading on the site, one more interesting fact: it’s really really easy to join. All you need to do is send in three pieces of media and let them decide if you’re right for the site. Anyone else interested? I know I am…
- Kid
02.14.08
22_TxtFile: Anniversary
_Today on TxtFile I’m posting one of my own pieces. I am about to submit this for a Magical Realism flash-fiction contest, so wish it well.
Anniversary
By: Kid BrotherHe lays on the bed behind her and pulls at her remaining feathers, whispering softly to himself with each pluck: “She loves me she loves me not…” She is brushing her hair, vaguely looking out the slits between the blinds into the morning sun. It is the day of the Anniversary and he can feel the tension in her shoulders, the apprehension in her spine. Read the rest of this entry »
02.11.08
21_Site Update: Network Specifications
__Jim Munroe of No Media Kings, who is a very helpful guy, by the way, asked me “Why “scene?” What “scene” are you emulating?” Of course it seemed like a stupid question to me, since I know all about the Scene, but he might not, especially since he’s Canadian, so I figured I’d better explain.
_In light of that, I’ve written a page describing the Scene, where it comes from, where it’s gotten to, and the next step, which is the site you’re reading right now.
- Kid
02.08.08
20_Incoming Signals: Bookslut
_Today’s Incoming Signals is for anyone who wants a lot to read, both on the screen and off it. Bookslut is a Chicago based blog about, well, books. Jessa Crispin, who runs the show, has a blog that is updated daily, but also puts out massive amounts of reviews and interviews on a monthly basis. There are also contributed columns and essays with topics that range from Valentine’s Day books for kids to the best graphic novels of the year to some rather intellectual looks at poetic styles and so on. If you love reading, and love reading about reading, you’ll love Bookslut.
- Kid
02.04.08
19_Start Program: SoundByte.exe
_This is SoundByte, where I’ll be showing you music from all over the scene. This is where melodies become zeroes and ones for your mind to decompress into your own experience.
_Starting off SoundByte is Baltimore’s best (and maybe only) all-girl/all-lesbian rock band: Odd Girl Out. Now, I’ll be honest and say that I have a preconceived distrust of all girl bands. Maybe it’s because I haven’t heard many, much less the good ones, but there seems to be some stigma that casts the all-girl band in a bad light. That is not the case with Odd Girl Out. They deliver solid songs reminiscent of their given influences, but with a twist of punk rock. If you enjoy both Hole and Hot Water Music, Odd Girl Out is the band for you.
_Their CD is avaliable for purchase off of their Myspace site (linked above) and their official website OddGirlOut.net. Show times and other media are also avaliable on both sites. Enjoy!
- Kid
