Audio-Man's Ranting

The next band that I wanna introduce to you all is a band that's pure aggression, anger and hatred with speed and power to match.

I suppose it wasn't easy for Dino to kick start this band after leaving Fear Factory. Well, for starters he had to try out 3 drummers which he 'sent home' because they weren't up to his specification. I suppose I do know his specification: play 1 million beat a minute of double bass drum. Ok, perhaps that was an overstatement but take my word for it...it's pretty close in real life because the fourth drummer that Dino auditioned is Tim Yeung. An awesome drummer that's for sure and I can tell you this, when you listen to their song you'd understand why Dino liked Tim Yeung. Blasting bass drums, awesome drumming skills as well. Its a mixture and balance of skill and endurance if you ask me. The song that blew me away was the very first song of the album , Bleed The Fifth. My ears just couldn't believe it when the drums came in after 'the bomb'.

Ok, I thought I should write about her before she gets really famous in Malaysia. Apparently now she's co-producing songs with Timbaland which means that she's bound for total fame really soon. A proof that I've known her for very long time already.

All right, here we go. Another one of those rare artists that Malaysia rarely or to be more pollitically correct never heard of is Anna Nalick.

Born in Glendora, California this 24 year old lass so far just released her first album in 2005 as well (yeah, but I heard of her around 2006)...How did I get to know her? Well, I was browsing through Amazon.com looking for some CDs and there it was, with the website recommending me to this particular artist after selecting a few CDs. And with the help of their 30 second sample and Limewire it brilliantly hooked me with her. At first I downloaded her single then I saw whole album was online so what the heck. (I know, this is not good for the artist but hey, I will buy the album if its in Tower Records k?)...by the way, is Tower Records closing for good in Malaysia?

She's one of those soft/pop rock kinda chick. Songs that got me hooked was In The Rough, Breathe (2am), Forever Love (Bigame) and Paper Bag. If you must know, her single Breathe (2am) was played in some of the famous shows that's currently being aired in our TV now...among them are Grey's Anatomy and One Tree Hill. If you're a love song junkie, then I would really..REALLY recommend Forever Love (Bigame).Anyways, you could just see her on Youtube...she's really famous there. Here's the link.

Well...so when she gets famous with her new song Shine where she co-produced with Timbaland don't say I never knew her a loooonnngggg time ago..ya dig?

Then again there's a possibility that she will never be famous...at all....here in Malaysia...

I'm putting the acoustic performance of Breathe(2am) for you guys to sample.

My nose is running off to Timbuktu....

I would like to introduce to you guys some of the...' mostly unheard' artist which I think is in need of an introduction. At least at my blog here. No, I don't think the number of people who listens to them in Malaysia could reach a ten, let alone a hundred. Anyways, I think they deserve an introduction here.

The band that I would like to introduce is Los Angeles's very own The Like.

Formed in 2001,the band consists of Elizabeth "Z" Berg (guitar/vocals), Charlotte Froom (bass/vocals) and Tennessee Thomas (drums/vocals). Their full length debut album, Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking ? was actually released in 2005. Yes, it was released 3 years ago and to be honest I only heard of them last year. Oh, it was introduced by another not so well known artist, Nina Gordon.

This band actually, is doing pretty well in the United States. Apparently they've opened for big names like Muse, Phantom Planet, Kings of Leon and even Tori Amos. One of their song, (So I'll Sit Here) Waiting was even featured in the movie Thirteen starring Evan Rachel Wood and Nicki Reed (A movie about hormon, angst,drama etc). Anyways, that song is particularly one of my favourite songs in the album. In fact, that was actually the first song that got me hooked on The Like.

Anyways, this is one of those rare bands that people should get to know about. Among some of my favourite songs in their debut EP is (So I'll Sit Here) Waiting, Too Late and We Are Lost. Of course, take my word for it...I love the whole album. Try it guys...


Oh, you would love them if you listen to...Veruca Salt, Tori Amos, Sarah Mclachlan, Anna Nalick..



"An all girl band?Really?....mmmm"

"Hey, aren't you the guy who listens to heavy metal? Y'know, those heavy growling vocals, distorted guitars and hard thumping drums that people can't hear a thing?How come I see Sean Kingston's song in your MP3 list..."

" Hey, aren't you the guy that listens to hip hop? People who listens to hip hop can't listen to metal."

"Hey, you look like a guy who listens to the Backstreet Boys.."

"I'm very confused by your music orientation..."

These are some of the comments I normally hear in my daily life.

C'mon people, grow up. Open thine eyes and see that the world has more to offer that just sticking to one genre of music. Sure, some people do stick to a few, but they always restrict themselves in order to avoid contradiction of ideology/genre (I'm trying to sound smart here...bear with me)

My opinion is that good music exists in all genres. Regardless whether it is a Tamil song, Hindi, Baghra, Malay song....I personally experienced good music in areas that I've never thought of finding. What area would that be? For me, one of the areas I find it surprising that I've learned to love (see the word LOVE and not using the word like ?) HIP HOP. And this includes the relevant areas to this genre (I'm just trying to make it clear that I see as Crunk is in the almost same genre to hip hop...the only difference that I see is a few...crunk has sountern fast beats and somehow or rather crunk has different 'ideology' based on my observation on their lyrics).

Yes, I admit. I was hip-hop-phobic. I started to be fanatical about music when I first listened to heavy metal or more specifically Metallica's Master Of Puppets. I used to tell myself people who listens to metal can't possibly relate themselves to these drug taking, pussy crazy alcohol drinking party animals. But you know what, somehow or rather its more than just the way of life of that particular genre. Its more rather than just what they have in their image and what they have in their list of precedence.

I was amazed by how anger and depression also are expressed in their genre. For example:

In Tupac's Letter To The President:

"How hypocritical is Liberty?
That blind bitch
ain't never did shit for me
My history, full of casket and scars
My own black nation at war, whole family behind bars"

Ok, I admit. I don't listen only because of lyrics. I don't restrict myself only to songs with "good angry lyrics". I like to that particular music/song due to whatever aspect that seems fit. What other aspects you ask? Well, it could be anything. The melody, beat, the mood it brings, rapping speed,lyrics...anything whatever it is, I'm a guy who doesn't restrict himself.

However...

Music prefference has always been about personal prefference. It can't be forced even though somehow or rather it fits the 'requirement' of the general public's definition of "good music" (notice that those "" means I'm doing the air quotes with my hands). There are just some songs (or perhaps many lah actually) I just refuse to accept it as good music, regardless by how many grammy that artist won..for example, Amy Whinehouse's Rehab. Why? Well, in my personal opinion it just sounds too noisy with her vocals let alone with music. Ok that was kinda rough, but I always say this: It's My Opinion. So just bear with it.If you can't handle this then bugger off aight?

I also tend to hear that song everytime my colleague's handphone rings. So consider it as being overplayed to me. Jemu lah.

But anyways...just want to let you know I do like some songs in the Malay scene, Indon scene, hip hop, pop, rock,alternative, emo(mainstream).... I don't think I could handle the instrumental emo scene or shuffle/in house mix/techno stuff. I just can't. I suppose I just couldn't grasp the concept yet.

So now comes to the question of...which genre do I belong to? Which image should I put up to say this is who I am?

I've thought about it. I suppose, I can't put up the pure hip-hop image (baggy pants, FUBU shoes, Eagle's jersey with cap,wristbands, shades)...I suppose I did try to do it before,during my studying days. But no, I just couldn't. Perhaps a normal occasional Lelaki Ampang image or just Ah Beng yang pergi layan itu techno kat club (reminder: I don't listen to techno...tak boleh blahh!!) kind of image that I potray perhaps?. That's maybe due to my limit financial resource. Aiyah, look at friendster profile lah. That's how I look.

Oh...I forgot to mention. I have a tendency to be a HUGE fan of those rarely played female artists on our national/cable tv. For example, who here has ever heard of Anna Nalick? Or The Like?

I'd buy and wear their printed t-shirts. That can't be considered gay right?....

Oh well...got to go...got a girl waiting for me in the shower now.Comiiinngg!!