Lust Control - "Tiny Little Dots"

Lust Control - Tiny Little Dots
2013, Rotweiller

1. Finger
2. Bully
3. Sheepeater
4. Dear John (Butch)
5. When Dan Was In the Band
6. Make Money and Die
7. As I Lay Crying
8. Faith Don't Fail Me Now
9. Fire Ants
10. There Go I
11. Meat
12. Tiny Little Dots (Oh Baby)
13. G.D.P.

While I have always been a big fan of Lust Control, their previous output could probably best be described as "an awful racket." I never in a million years thought they would put out another album, but after a successful Kickstarter they're back with Tiny Little Dots. This album is a big change for them as it is actual music (remember, I'm a fan!). Specifically, the guys have injected a lot more punk attitude a la Crashdog. Gene's vocals are a lot more gruff and raw, not unlike Spike Nard's - especially in songs like "Make Money and Die" and "There Go I." The album is a lot heavier with thicker guitars and beautiful, clean, full production. This is amazing to me seeing as the Kickstarter was a mere three grand! Oh, and I should probably mention that this is, by leaps and bounds, the best material the band has ever recorded. Like... it's even good when stacked against other bands. "Sheepeater" has a cool groove and some gang vocals. "Make Money and Die" is a monster punk tune with a killer hook. Likewise, "Fire Ants" is another pure punk ditty with a great sing-along chorus. "Finger" and "G.D.P." are downright metal. This album is so good you might not believe it was the same band. I hope this is the start of something new with these guys and not just a one-off because I would love to hear more!

I think it might be cool to hear some of the old school songs with this kind of sound and production. "Madolyn Murry O'Hair" in particular would be awesome reworked in the new style.

Useless Fact: "G.D.P." stands for "Grandpa's Dangerous Prayer" and is a song about Gene's grandfather and his ministry. The concept behind the album title and cover art is that when one is looking at pornography you're not really seeing a person. You're seeing an illusion created by millions of tiny little dots.

O.S.I. - "Free"

O.S.I. - Free
2006, Inside Out

1. Sure You Will
2. Free
3. Go
4. All Gone Now
5. Home Was Good
6. Bigger Wave
7. Kicking
8. Better
9. Simple Life
10. Once
11. Our Town

I can definitely see why people would like Free over Fire Make Thunder. There's just so much more actual album here. It also has much more momentum. It's heavy at times and haunting at others. I really like the acoustic guitar mixed with the industrial elements. I've always wondered why people don't do more of that. It's also extremely catchy and the songs will stick in your head for days. I don't have too much to say other than I like it. I don't love it, but it is a good album.

Useless Fact: Um.... yeah... did you know O.S.I. stands for Office of Strategic Influence? You did? Well, shoot. They can't all be winners.

Haken - "The Mountain"

Haken - The Mountain
2013, Inside Out

1. The Path
2. Atlas Stone
3. Cockroach King
4. In Memoriam
5. Because It's There
6. Falling Back To Earth
7. As Death Embraces
8. Pareidolia
9. Somebody
Bonus Tracks:
10. The Path Unbeaten
11. Nobody

Haken is yet another wonderful You Tube find. Also, The Mountain is quite possibly one of the most stunning albums I've heard in quite a while. It's got so many different influences. I hear some King's X in the layered vocals. I hear a little Devin Townsend. Some Dream Theater. All of it mixed together in a potent stew of some of the most beautiful songs. "Cockroach King" is a tour de force in terms of progressive songwriting with awesome vocal interplays and heavy guitars. "Because It's There" starts with a vocal part that's almost Gregorian chant and evolves into this amazing soaring chorus. "Pareidolia" and "Somebody" are awesome emotionally charged songs that are simply mesmerizing. I know it's illegal but if nobody posted the album on You Tube I would have never known to buy this!

Useless Fact: The bonus tracks are different arrangements of "The Path" and "Somebody." Hence the titles.

Maschine - "Rubidium"

Maschine - Rubidium
2013, Inside Out

1. The Fallen
2. Rubidium
3. Cubixstro
4. Invincible
5. Venga
6. Eyes, Pt. 1
7. Eyes, Pt. 2
Bonus Tracks:
8. Chains
9. Reach Out

I'm surprised there isn't more buzz about Maschine. I found them through You Tube. The magic You Tube robot plopped "Eyes, Pt. 1" in my feed. It was an intriguing mix of progressive rock, metal, jazz, and maybe a little bit of pop. Maschine is definitely an eclectic and talented band. The songs are long, but never boring - filled with little guitar riffs and fills and a great sense of melody. The band also indulges in some 70's prog rock and pop as well. Other reviews have said they sound a little like Pain of Salvation and I'm sure that band was an influence. I do have a couple complaints. First, the vocals, while not bad, aren't as good as they could be. Sometimes it sounds like the vocalist is trying too hard to make his vocals sound "rock" instead of just singing the songs. It's not near enough to hurt my enjoyment - it's just something I noticed. Also, the lyrics really don't do anything for me as they are mostly variations on "girl, you done me wrong." I kind of expected music that's as epic and technical to have some more interesting and suitably epic lyrics. It's also entirely possible that I just don't understand what they're trying to do. Despite those nitpicks, Maschine remains one of my favorite finds of 2013. I really hope more people discover them!

Useless Fact: "Chains" and "Reach Out" are labeled as bonus tracks but I don't think there are any editions of this album without them. I can see why they were bonus tracks though as they don't seem to quite fit with the rest of the album. They're good, though.

Lady Gaga - "ARTPOP"

Lady Gaga - ARTPOP
2013, Interscope

1. Aura
2. Venus
3. G.U.Y.
4. Sexxx Dreams
5. Jewels N' Drugs
6. Manicure
7. Do What U Want
8. Artpop
9. Swine
10. Donatella
11. Fashion!
12. Mary Jane Holland
13. Dope
14. Gypsy
15. Applause

Remember way back when I said that there may be more to Lady Gaga than people think? Yeah... I'm pretty sure I was wrong about that. All I have to say is: thank goodness this is better than Born This Way. It's a little bit of a return to The Fame with simple songs about sex... and drugs... and fashion. I also like the catchy electronic/synth-type stuff that made me like her debut so much. Another feature of this album is the dub-step influence in many of the songs. Not that I mind, there's enough melody in here to make it interesting. I will say I absolutely HATE "Jewels N' Drugs" because it's a rap song. The exact kind of rap that I despise. It's completely out of place on this album. Anyway, nothing here is really groundbreaking but it's still infectious and Lady Gaga's still one of the best singers in pop music today. Let's round this out with some observations:

"Do What U Want" is a duet with R. Kelly in which Lady Gaga tells him he can do anything he wants with her body. I'm not really sure that's the person you want to tell that to. Several of these songs appeared on Lady Gaga's Holiday Spectacular (which starred the Muppets). It tanked in the ratings. Probably because the venn diagram intersection of "people who like Lady Gaga" and "people who like the Muppets" includes four people - five at most. Two of those people are my wife and I. Finally, I have the censored Walmart version (because we were there and that's what they had). I find it hilarious that people think you can clean up a song like "Sexxx Dreams" just by removing the word "sex."

Useless Fact: ARTPOP was also inspired by the pantheon of Greek and Roman gods. The sexy ones at any rate. Oh, and that picture on the cover is actually a statue that someone made. And did you know that up to five people wrote some of these songs?

LaBrie, James - "Impermanent Resonance"

LaBrie, James - Impermanent Resonance
2013, Inside Out

1. Agony
2. Undertow
3. Slight of Hand
4. Back On the Ground
5. I Got You
6. Holding On
7. Lost in the Fire
8. Letting Go
9. Destined To Burn
10. Say You're Still Mine
11. Amnesia
12. I Will Not Break
Bonus Tracks:
13. Why
14. Unraveling

Years ago I bought James LaBrie's first solo album, Elements of Persuasion. I remember liking the first two songs and no others. However, some kind (or evil, I guess... depending on your perspective) soul posted LaBrie's new album on You Tube in its entirety. I listened... and boy did I like. I put in on my Christmas list post haste. This is a lot different from Dream Theater. It's not progressive at all - these tunes are very radio friendly with lots of hooks and melodies. It's also pretty heavy as well with some great riffs and good production. I honestly think LaBrie's performance on this album is better than on the new self-titled Dream Theater.

Useless Fact: I guess "Why" and "Unraveling" were bonus tracks on the European version. Somehow I got them even though I think I have the American version. It also annoys me when question asking song titles don't have question marks.

Deliverance - "Hear What I Say!"

Deliverance - Hear What I Say!
2013, 3Frogz

1. Liber 111(Intro)
2. Annals of Subterfuge
3. Angst
4. Hope Lies Beyond
5. Detox
6. Nude
7. Passing
8. A Perfect Sky
9. Where Eagles Dare
10. Entgiftung (German Version of "Detox")

I am so happy Deliverance's last album finally saw the light of day. If you'll remember, the big D has planned a new album since 2010. It was originally supposed to be called The Annuls of Subterfuge, and a return to the band's old thrash roots. However, it was cancelled some years later only to be resurrected in 2013 as Hear What I Say! It's been billed as the band's official "last album" (though that's been said before!) but instead of a thrash album it's got a lot more variety. It's almost a celebration of all the different eras of the band. The first two tracks, "Annuls" and "Angst" are prime thrash cuts while songs like "Hope Lies Beyond" have a definite River Disturbance vibe. Both "Detox" and "Nude" have a sound not unlike Learn. There are even some shades of Camelot here and there. "A Perfect Sky" is notable for being an acoustic ballad featuring only Jimmy's voice and guitar. "Where Eagles Dare" is an Iron Maiden cover that the band pulls off with style. As a whole the album rocks and will please fans of the band who appreciate all of their material. If you're only into Weapons well... get over yourself! There are awesome songs on here and it all truly sounds like Deliverance. I've always thought there was something "off" about As Above - So Below musically - like I'm wearing my shoes on the wrong feet while I'm listening. There's no such feeling here. As a bonus, the production is excellent and the mighty Jayson Sherlock (formerly of Mortification and Paramaecium) provides the drumming. It sure is a pleasure to listen to that man drum again!

The only problem with Hear What I Say! is that it's just too darn short. Not counting the intro, the cover, and the German version of "Detox" there's only seven new songs here. "Hope Lies Beyond" is actually a cover from an indie band called Sombrance bringing the total to six. I really wish there could have been a couple more tracks here. It seems like "Annals" and "Angst" were from the Annals album sessions, while the rest of the tracks are newer. On the other hand, Jimmy has never been one to fill a CD up with songs just because he can.

One final thought regarding the cover art. I wonder if Jimmy feels like being in Deliverance has stifled his creativity or his real self. The guy's gag has the D papal cross logo on it. I know Jimmy has felt in the past as though he's had to pretend to be someone he's not in order to keep the band running. Maybe I'm reading too much into it...

Useless Fact: No lyrics in the liner notes? *sigh* I has a sad. They are up on the band's website, however.