The Beach Boys - The Smile Sessions

The Smile Sessions is a Beach Boys album that was recorded in the 60s after Pet Sounds but never finished or released in full until now, 2011.  The project was never completed because the band's main songwriter, Brian Wilson, went crazy. 

Before I start I need to say that I didn't listen to the entirety of the tracks.  After the album finishes (the first 19 songs) there are several CDs worth of studio outtakes and other not-completed material that I am not interested in hearing.  

The Smile Sessions is about average length (48 minutes) but five of the 19 main tracks are under two minutes long.  Most of the songs transition well with a great flow, especially towards the beginning where some of the tracks feel like they were made to be next to each other.  The instrumentation is of the same quality as Pet Sounds.  Brian Wilson's distinct falsetto vocals and vocal harmonies are present, creating entertaining, lovable melodies for most of the songs.  The tracks have many layers of instruments, vocals and other sounds, making for interesting and rewarding re-listens.  The songs are well produced and sound crisp. 

 Much of what made Pet Sounds an amazing album is present on Smile, only some of the tracks feel unfinished.  The songs are solid and stand up well in re-listens.  I would recommend this album to anyone who enjoys the 1960s Beach Boys, especially for fans of Pet Sounds. The Beach Boys have not disappointed (Well, maybe a 40 year wait would count as a disappointment) me with this release. 

Track Highlights: Our Prayer, Gee, My Only Sunshine, Look (Song for Children), Child is the Father of Man, Surf's Up and Good Vibrations.

                                7/10

Animals As Leaders (2009)

"Animals As Leaders" is an American Djent and Instrumental Metal artist.   The group was formed and is run by guitar virtuoso Tosin Abasi.  "Djent" is a new genre of heavy metal music combining 'Math Metal' and 'Progressive Metal' (It's shorter than saying "Second Wave of Progressive Metal").  While "Djent" is the easiest way to tag Animals as Leaders, this album spans many genres and styles, some of them not as familiar to me.  There are obvious Jazz influences, some use of the acoustic guitar, and the occasional electronic beat or synthesizer.

The Album Cover

The album has no real drummer or bassist; Tosin Abasi plays the bass guitar and the drums were programmed by Misha Mansoor (Periphery guitarist), the only other person to record on the album (Misha is also credited for the electronic parts and engineering). The songs are all instrumentals built around and to show off Tosin Abasi's technical prowess and virtuosity on the guitar. The percussion sounds exactly what you would expect from programmed drums; a very mechanical, fake feeling.  Most of the songs feature a short intro that differs from the rest of the track.  None of the songs sound the same or even that similar.  With the lack of vocals the songs also have a slight-lack of emotion.  It should be noted that the percussion is much more dynamic towards the end of the album. 


The first time I heard the record it was a little overwhelming; I thought all the songs went on for too long or just weren't that well written.  Upon each further listen I raised my score of the album to where it is now.  


1 - Tempting Time -                             8.5/10
2 - Soraya -                                         7.5/10
3 - Thourougly At Home -                     7/10
4 - On Impulse -                                  7.25/10
5 - Tessitura -                                        7/10
6 - Behaving Badly -                            8.5/10
7 - The Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing -    6.5/10
8 - CAFO -                                          7/10
9 - Inamorata -                                    7.5/10
10 - Point to Point -                            7.5/10
11 - Modern Meat -                            7.5/10
12 - Song of Solomon -                       8/10


After listening to this album there are two things you have to admit about it:
1 - He's an amazing and talented guitarist
2 - One instrument isn't everything

The majority of this album manages to escape the usual pitfalls of the genre, solo guitar artists and instrumentals. I'm confident Animals as Leaders have a bright future in the world of heavy metal.

          70/100

Tool - 10,000 Days review

1 Vicarious - Amazing song about violence, generally considered the star of the CD. Vicarious has some of the best guitar work you'll ever hear.     5/5




2 Jambi - Starts off with a great riff. Near the middle there is a breath taking guitar solo. Great bass 5/5




3 Wings for Marie (Part 1) - This is the intro for "10,000 Days". It is a lot slower than the first two songs. The beginning makes me think of Pink Floyd, for some reason. Over 11 minutes long. 3/5




4 10,000 Days (Part 2) - The song starts off slowly. This is one of Tool's most thoughtful songs. It is about Maynard's mother. 9/10 (This song takes a few listens)




5 The pot - Starts off with Maynard showing off his singing skills. The song is overall weaker than the other songs on the album, but has a hook to it that makes up for lack of technicality. Nice guitar solo. 4.5/5




6 Lipan Conjuring - This is an interlude. I am not sure of it's meaning or purpose. It sounds like some kind of native ritual. I would give this a 2.5/5 but I am a fan of interludes and their artsy stuff... You might not like it.




7 Lost Keys (Blame Hoffman) - This song is the intro to "Rosetta Stoned". It is mostly art not so much music until the end of the song. During the last minute or so, you hear voices talking about how "the patient won't talk". 4/5




8 Rosetta Stoned - This song starts off hard and heavy. The vocals are rapidly telling the story in first person, of a man who was abducted by aliens. I believe this is actually a story about a man who was "Stoned". This is possibly the best drumming on the album. Also the heaviest song on the album. This song is over 11 minutes. 4/5

(This song has excessive swearing, so watch out, if you care)




9 Intension - This one is very artsy. The first time I heard it, I didn't like it at all. It grows on you a lot. Don't give up on it. 4/5




10 Right in Two - Nothing weird about this one. Great bass, and guitar. Also this is some impressive drumming. 4.5/5




11 Viginti Tres - Very weird song. The first time I heard it I had to look up the writing credits because I thought I heard a little Trent Reznor on this. (Nine inch Nails). This song is quite artsy. It is like "(-) Ions" from Aenima. There is some vocals near the end, but you can't really tell what he is saying, and I'm pretty sure it isn't in English or German. 3.5/5

The album is great. The only thing that is lesser about it is the interlude "Lipan Conjuring", I didn't find it as strong as the interludes on "Lateralus" or "Aenima".
Like all of the Tool albums, this will take a few listens to get used to.

8.4/10

Dethklok

   I got the non-bonus track version of 'the Dethalbum' by Dethklok.  This is basically the soundtrack to the American TV show "Metalocalypse".  In the show the five band members go around doing death metal related things (Like recording an album in a submarine).  Though they advertise themselves as a "Death metal" band they are very much on the side of "Melodic Death Metal" (Though they don't really conform to all the trends of the genre).


1 Murmaider - 9.5/10 Second best song on the album, sick intro, and the rest of the song is great, heavy, great main riff,
2 Go into the water - 9/10 Nice intro, Nice riff,  LISTEN TO THE GUITAR, Slower
3 Awaken 8.9/10, Everythings there.
4 Bloodrucuted - 9/10 - Shortest song on the album.
5 Go fourth and die - 8.7/10 Tiny guitar solo.
6 Fansong - 9/10 Great Chorus, Heavy.
7 Better Metal snake - 9/10 The first time I heard this one I didn't like it but now its one of my favorites, the chorus is very good, Very good vocals.
8 The lost vikings - 9 Drums are good.
9 Thunderhorse - 9.5/10 Some of the best vocals on the album. Great guitar work.
10 Briefcase full of guts - 8.5/10
11 Birthday Dethday 8.8/10
12 Hatredcopter - 9.5/10 Best song on the album, the vocals are slightly different, clean singing mixed in with the growl makes it a very good song.
13 Castratrikron - 8.5/10
14 Face Fisted - 8.8/10 Heavier then the one before and after it.
15 Dethharmonic - 7/10 - Stars off different from any other song on the album, but gets good at the end.

The album flows well and manages to be melodic death metal without being completely manufactured and trendy.

Album score  8.8