I realized that I've never posted my solo song Songs of Life to my website. So here it is! Also, I've never posted my best of albums list for 2022. I'll do 2022 and 2023 at the same time and slap 'em up during Christmas in Chicago, for my 2 readers.
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I play drums in a little band named Broke in Vegas and this is our full set from SoulBelly BBQ downtown Las Vegas arts district. A stupendous time was had by all! I did a thing! I finished up my first original song since 2006 and I put it up on YouTube as a lyric video. It's been up for a few months, but I am posting it on my blog since I've finally gotten around to updating this darn website. I hope you enjoy and feel free to comment here, on YouTube, or share it. There will be a proper video for this song one day and there are also more originals in the works. During Covid break, I did five covers. I posted the other three and here are the other two. I hope you enjoy them! 1. Failure - Wild Type Droid. How did I sleep on the band Failure for so long? I've listened to other bands that the members are involved in, but have failed to listen to Failure themselves. Not only did I enjoy wild type droid immensely, but I went back into the Failure catalogue and enjoyed all their other releases as well. It is a joy to find a discography of music to explore that has been as bountiful as this. Do yourself a favor and give this new release a listen, at least. Edit: I saw Failure live with my daughter last month in Chicago and it was EPIC!
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nMKbQYLN_dPSKpl36i3wIFsbnoDquQ49o 2. Mogwai - As the Love Continues. What can I say? Mogwai never disappoints. This is yet another superb album by the kings of post-rock. Mogwai cures migraines. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lCJtO9LMo02rk5cqRqNJ9F3zpElNVXxL4 3. Genghis Tron - Dream Weapon. There was over a decade between GT's last album and this new one. It was worth the wait. This album is beautiful and powerful. https://youtu.be/kjZmv8MY40M 4. Quicksand - Distant Populations. Yet another solid release from Walter Schreifels and company. I got drunk when they played the Brooklyn bowl and was angered because the sound was horrible. I hope they come back and play a different venue. Quicksand has zero bad albums. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcZMZxR9uxC8YVOmFfp8iwAyv-JhxGyVn 5. Gary Numan - Intruder. After seeing Gary Numan in London, I started diving into his back catalogue. I found many interesting songs besides cars. His new record did not let me down as it is very solid work. It's written from the perspective of a dying earth and humans are the intruders. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE8kDWBqT19aNp0Tn_-jdPvBiLDkNQINd 6. Skold - Dias Irae. I am more of a Tim Skold fan then a KMFDM fan now. Dias Irae is Tim dishing out the heaviness. His vocals are awesome as well. He had another collaboration release in 2021 (Not My God) that was more of an electronic album, but his solo work is way better, in my opinion. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m6AoboUIV1vfyQojpHBgW2PEJn4uQjeBw 7. Love and Death - Perfectly Preserved. This solo album from Korn guitarist Brian Head Welch is really good. I had a hard time waiting for the new Korn album, and this helped pass the time quite well. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lZKPlL9sr5IYPUm2GBldkmxLVYW5NMctc 8. Consolidated - We're Already There. This is the perfect time for consolidated to come back. They are still the hardest liberal, vegetarian, pro-choice, lesbian and gay-supporting motherfuckers from San Francisco. All, and I mean ALL genres and ideas are represented on this double album. I am hoping to catch them live soon. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mMk668iPqAEWqDkwpgSRobdelYCwlGZdg 9. Ministry - Moral Hygiene. This album has a perfect blend of industrial and metal with completely political lyrics. If you like Trump a bunch, maybe this album is not for you. Catch them on tour! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kaTqMSVAqIliLNojEtFvMZ_scAAilqKEM 10. MammothWVH. I wrote this having missed Wolfgang playing live in Vegas. I regret it already. This album is a superb debut and I feel the songs would translate to the live setting very well, but I'll have to wait and find out at a later date. I hear Wolf is working on a new album. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfiMjLyNWxeYE9ZY8mdkjExt93VG045pt I recorded a few cover songs in 2020. I hope you get a chance to watch them and enjoy! Thank you so much! Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar) - The Doors The Things You Said - Depeche Mode Something in the Way - Nirvana This has been a difficult year for me on a personal level, yet an excellent year for music releases. A few of these releases wouldn't have happened if not for the virus coming and giving musicians a lot of time off the road and in the studio. I am going to include YouTube links again to these albums this year. I sincerely hope you find a new artist to listen to that you haven’t heard before reading this blog. Music is a great joy in my life and I like to share it with others, for sure! Please let me know what you think, share your own best of 2020 lists with me, or just say hi on my comments section or on Facebook!
Honorable Mentions – El Ten Eleven – Tautology I – This is my favorite post-rock release of the year. It extends and experiments with the genre while still being very moving and powerful. I dig the looper pedals, the fretless bass, and the superb layered instrumentations. It’s a lot of work for just one person. https://youtu.be/pIzDnPCQTY8 and Moon Hooch – Life on Other Planets https://youtu.be/CYYokLQl19s when this Moon Hooch album came out in January, I thought it would be in the top ten albums of 2020 for me. It did not make it, but it came close. It is another very solid album from these mega talented players and who doesn’t love a great saxophone? one more mention of the new Cabaret Voltaire album, which is really a Richard Kirk solo record. It is a great release and was going to sit at #9 until the Smashing Pumpkins record came out. I could have moved the Cabs to #10 and taken Bush out, but I saw Bush twice this year, in the covid times, which is strange. Erin and I saw Bush, Our Lady Peace, and Live right before covid hit. Then, post-covid, we saw Bush again at one of the drive-in social distancing shows. They earned their spot on my list with their great performances. Plus, my wife got to molest Gavin Rossdale during the first concert, which is a story all in itself. Since my wife does not understand personal space, I leave Bush at #10. www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m7vuvin679eV3Og7af_2KZIkbPxYDhDbk This is the first time I will be including YouTube links to my favorite songs from each artist. Turn up your speakers and enjoy!
1. Raketkanon - RKTKN#3 - A sonic smorgasbord with big drums, heavy guitar riffs, trippy keyboard lines, and vocals that mean nothing at all and are highly filtered through pedals. Their first two albums are also huge for me. This, as they announced, is their last and final album and concerts. I never got to see them live and that is a life regret. Maybe someday, I can convince them to come to Las Vegas for a one off show. youtu.be/7NSUBw2UXPg 2. Helms Alee - Noctiluca - Another sonic smorgasbord with massive drums, heavy guitar riffs, and three part harmonies that work well. Helms Alee write some of the most original metal music you will ever hear. I paid to see them live this year and didn't get to go. I would do it again. youtu.be/Tz9JXRmtsJA 3. Korn - The Nothing - Another monstrous piece of work from Jonathan Davis and company. Many are saying that this is a throwback to their original work, but I say no! It is just Korn doing what they love to do. Natural progression of their catalogue. youtu.be/wA3Mq5R6eiE 4. Torche - Admission - I am late to the party on these guys. I really wore this record out this year and have started listening to their back catalogue. Heavy stoner rock with a fuzzed out post-metal vibe. youtu.be/rf7_woA_br8 5. Russian Circles - Blood Year - You haven't heard Russian Circles? There is probably something wrong with you. This album is solid in performance and production. Instrumental Metal at its best, right here. youtu.be/5t33-O1gMgw 6. Battles - Juice B Crypts - And the trio was down to two.. But is still crafty, groovy, cymbal-less, odd-metered, ingenious, and full of joy for your ears. John Stanier smokes Marlboro mediums. youtu.be/5P-VKUTp6qE 7. Spotlights - Love & Decay - Husband and wife team make a superb post-rock album that uses vocals sparingly and tastefully. This album flows well from beginning to end and can be enjoyed on a playlist or as a whole. They did some great tours over the last few years, and, if they don't pull a Fleetwood Mac, they could be around for a long time. youtu.be/PUytIlDEsMA 8. Meat Beat Manifesto - Opaque Couche - This album came out right in time for my birthday this year. Of course, I knew it would be in my top ten because everything Jack Dangers touches turns to gold in my eyes. Such lush sounds, samples, drums, and vibes always moving and always tasteful. Some of the best electronic music you may hear. youtu.be/p7y8seMU--Y 9. Download - Unknown Room - This may be the end for this electronic industrial group. cEvin Key is well, but Phil Western passed. This is a very organic album and was a step in a few different directions while staying wholly the same. There may be a few more releases, but none that have Phil's ideas any longer. Sad.. Love me some cEvin though! youtu.be/KQKnG3vZg-w 10. Front Line Assembly - Wake Up the Coma - Last on the list and the third "old school industrial vibe" album on it. A proper FLA release after their Airmech soundtrack album. This album has some great guest vocal spots. There is only one song I would do without on this slamming record. I will probably skip that song forever and it will never grow on me. I don't even understand why or how it was allowed to be written. youtu.be/zQpbX4RHiX8 There were a handful of other artists I wanted to include on this list, but I have decided to keep this and future lists to ten. Thank you for reading and clicking! Please feel free to comment or ask questions. If you want access to my server to hear these or any other bands, send me a message on any one of 100 services you use. I'm not hard to find, there's only a few Matt Kluk's in the world. 1. Erika Wennerstrom - This is the first solo record from The Heartless Bastards lead singer and it is perfect. She is truly remarkable. Beautiful, angelic voice and superb songwriting.
2. Meat Beat Manifesto - One of my most anticipated album releases of 2018 does not disappoint. Jack Dangers creates amazing soundscapes. I listened to this as a I strolled around many places last year. 3. Ministry - A ferocious, focused, polished Ministry album that delivers a large bag of burning shit to Trump's doorstep. Go Cesar Soto! 4. Front Line Assembly - This is the Soundtrack from the AirMech video game and it is amazing. No vocals, but a proper FLA album drops in 2019. This was another fun album to stroll around places. 5. Jonathan Davis - Second solo album from Korn's front man. His x-wife killed herself during the tour for this album. Unfortunate. New Korn is coming in 2019. 6. Vein - This EP packs a punch and Vein is one of my favorite new bands of the year! (side note after writing - Vein just played in Henderson last weekend and I didn't go or even take Devin because I was scared to get my head kicked off) 6.5. Dead Now - This EP also packs a punch and Dead Now is one of my favorite new bands of the year! 7. Scars on Broadway - I dismissed the first SOB album, but this one was really good. Especially enjoyed the Skinny Puppy cover. 8. Bad Wolves - This album surprised me. I like it a lot, and not just because I know Kyle. Great vocals and instrumental prowess abound! The beautiful cover of Zombie doesn't hurt either. 9. Ohgr - Solo work from Skinny Puppy front man, and multi-instrumentalist Mark Walk. All the Ohgr releases are superb work and I hope to make it out to see them on their next trek around the states. 10. Perfect Circle - I like A Perfect Circle more than I like Tool. I definitely like this album. I expect Tool's album to drop in 2019. PREDICTION! It will not make this list next year. |
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December 2023
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