Music Stratosphere I need to expand my musical horizons, so I'm doing it by rating one band at a time. Statistics Unique Visitors: Total Unique Visitors: Outgoing: Total Outgoing: 0 0 0 158

Articles from Music Stratosphere

Tapes N' Tapes 2007-10-02 23:02:00 Here's a new one. It kind of sounds like the best bar band ever. I don't even know where I would listen to Tapes N' Tapes other than a bar. People describe them as sounding like Modest Mouse, but honestly, this band is ten times better. They rank very high on the originality scale. It has a very frantic, snap-your-fingers kind of pace to it, minus the unnecessary distortion or whiny vocals that most bands in this genre have. In one word, this band is: cool.Rating: 3 1/2 stars ...

The Sugarcubes 2007-09-29 23:18:00 The Sugarcubes, Bjork's first band, are what is only can be defined as "a breath of fresh air". I hadn't really heard Bjork sound so focused. They take all the good things about 80's new wave (originality, good beats, optimism) and leave out the bad (pretentiousness, no direction). What makes it all work is that Bjork has to use her amazing vocal talents within the confine of a band. Sometimes, freedom isn't such a good thing, and it shows here. If you like the B-52's, Cyndi Lauper, or obviously Bjork, then listen to the Sugarcubes.Rating: 4 stars ...

The Calling 2007-09-26 19:21:00 I couldn't stand this band. The singer tries way to hard to sound like Bono at times, but the overall result sounds more like Matchbox Twenty. I've never actually heard this type of music other than during the ending credits of a romance movie. People actually listen to this crap? And speaking of romance movies, I just saw they they covered "Keep Your Hands To Yourself" for the Sweet Home Alabama soundtrack. Good God. I rather spend an eternity hanging out with Joe Rogan than to listen to this band one more time.Rating: 0 stars. ...

Kyuss 2007-09-22 12:58:00 Kyuss is a kind of psychedelic stoner rock. Songs like El Rodeo remind one of Queens of the Stone Age, while songs like 50 Million Year Trip are more like something you might find on Californication. They are pretty good musically speaking, mixing frantic distortion with Tool-esque breakdowns. This is what I call "night music"; where it's better listened to in a darkened room or staring into the stars. Not really something you would jam to with the top down.Rating: 3 1/2 stars ...

Russian Circles 2007-09-21 17:07:00 This band I love. An instrumental band from Chicago, this is how rock should progress. The problem with most of the hard rock bands these days, is that you always have a vocalist whose only talent is his ability to scream. I hate that. Imagine those bands, now subtract the screaming, and add some softer moments; this is what the Russian Circles sound like. I recommend this band for anybody who likes instrumental music. Closest band I can think of is Godspeed You Black Emperor!Rating: 4 1/2 stars ...

Shipping News 2007-09-20 19:01:00 I'll preface this with saying that I am not a big fan of trance music. Perhaps it is because I have never taken ecstasy. However, I did find that the Shipping News is pretty listenable. From what I listened to, it was chill enough and interesting enough to be worthy of repeated playbacks, which is always a good sign. The only probelem I had with it is that I would have liked more vocal content, but perhaps that is just because I don't like trance. But I did like it, which counts for something.Rating: 3 1/2 stars ...

Sahg 2007-09-18 12:18:00 It would be misleading to tell you that Sahg is a Norwegian metal band with ties to Gorgoroth. The only way I could describe it: imagine if Ozzy Osbourne had sang for Soundgarden. Sahg is melodic as hell, has a great rhythm section, and has songs that are as catchy as the Beatles. Ok, maybe not that catchy. Anyways, I could picture their song "Soul Exile" being a huge hit in the States. Highly original.Rating: 5 stars! ...

Pentagram 2007-09-15 22:32:00 For my first band, I listened to Pentagram. This is a band from the 70's whose closest connection musically is Black Sabbath. The two sound alike in a lot of ways, the only difference being that their singer isn't as erratic as Ozzy. Apparently, Pentagram is known as the American version of Black Sabbath, only that they never became famous. I've read from various message boards and fan reviews that they are as responsible for the birth of heavy metal as Sabbath is. I find that they are a little more on the classic rock side of it all. Anyways, if you like Sabbath, you'll like Pentagram. Just in time for Halloween.Rating: 4 stars ...

Foreign Objects 2007-09-12 20:37:00 Foreign Objects is the band that CKY was before they were CKY. In case you don't know, CKY is the band whose drummer, Jess Margera, is Bam Margera's brother. They are featured in all of Bam's videos (obviously, with titles like CKY2K & CKY3) and Jackass. Anyways, they only released one EP, The Undiscovered Numbers & Colors. Grittier than CKY, songs like Test It Out and Genesis 12a are more along the lines of heavy metal, but with an added emphasis on the instruments. Then there is Drag Me Down, which is more grunge, if anything. Singer Deron Miller's voice is not as trained as it has gotten since forming CKY, which actually helps the feel of their songs. A great, original sound.Rating: 4 1/2 stars ...