Jupiter in Velvet-The World Didn't Start With U

Free 2b Free Records
2015

Look! Up there in the sky! Is it a bird? No! Is it a plane? Nope! Is it a band? Kinda. You're getting closer! Well then, is it a man who happens to be a singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and electric rock and roller? Yes, you finally nailed it! It's Jupiter in Velvet!! Born and raised here in the U.S. (and now calling London his home base of operations), Jupiter in Velvet is a out of this world musician with a grand total of four albums to his credit. First sighted in 2012 (by way of Jupiter in Velvet's critically-acclaimed debut album, "Screaming the Love Behind the Scars"), Jupiter in Velvet has grown stronger with each new release and now this US/UK singer/songwriter looks to take things even higher with album number four. Last week I covered this album's title track and lead single, "The World Didn't Start With U" and now I'm happy to report that the rumors are true. It might seem impossible (or at the very least improbable), but "The World Didn't Start With Us" is one of 2015's best "rock" recordings and there is actually physical evidence available to back up that wild claim! What kind of evidence is there you might be asking? Well, by clicking on this link you can actually go and stream this album and hear it all for yourself! That's right! There's no need to be a Doubting Thomas when you can just go directly to the source and play "The World Didn't Start With Us"! All I ask is that you please wait on doing that until the ride comes to a complete stop. You wouldn't want to miss any of sights would you? I didn't think so. Where were we then? Ah yes, Jupiter in Velvet circa 2015. Reportedly this is the "heaviest" recording of his career. Or was it the most aggressive? It's certainly the most ambitious one to date. Beyond that I honestly cannot remember which one it was. Not that it really matters if you are new to this band. And if you are? Well, first things first then. When it comes to this underground rocker it's worth mentioning how Jupiter in Velvet has been (vocally) compared to the likes of David Bowie and Paul McCartney and that he has a PhD in Finance. So, not only is he musically skilled, but Jupiter in Velvet is also highly intelligent. Both ideals play towards the absolute strength of this album. As far as that first part goes one need not look any further than "Martini Rock" for David Bowie and "Dive In2 My Seas" for Paul McCartney. There are other tracks that fir those molds, but those two numbers spring to mind so I went with them. And the second part? Well, that's the album as a whole. Other than "When Love Rules The Day" (which sounds suspiciously like INXS) this album is chock full of clever ideas and infectious material. The individual songs that make up "The World Didn't Start With Us" are intelligent, well-structured, and challenging. Genre-wise there is something for everyone. At it's heaviest there are songs that cut a path between post-grunge and (goth-infused) nineties alt. rock. At it's lightest there are psychedelic like moments that hint at what The Beatles would have sounded like if they were still together in the eighties. In-between all of that you'll find fuzz-heavy electro rock that is honest and optimistic. Of the twelve tracks on "The World Didn't Start With Us" only "When Love Rules The Day" struck me the wrong way. That's just one out of twelve! Highlights for me would be too many to count, but the album kicks off with the tile track first, swings into "Alpha Me Omega U" and then moves through key moments like "The Beauty of U", "No Matter Where U Go", "The Everything & The Nothing", "Eat Your Fear", and the aforementioned "Dive In2 My Sea". Looking over my physical notes I see that I wrote down and then underlined phrases like 90's alternative rock, bass-heavy, and fuzz-tastic(!) and then I jotted down bands as diverse as Cracker, Gin Blossoms and My Bloody Valentine. Besides the fact that I need to do a better job of making sure that my notes are better worded(!) the key thing to take aware from all of that is the diversity of this album and the fact that it reminds me of a better era (as far as great rock/alternative rock is concerned!). For what's it's worth this album also reminds me of a show that my daughter and I have been binge watching on Netflix. Try not to laugh, but Jupiter in Velvet's "The World Didn't Start With U" brings to mind Buffy the Vampire Slayer's TV soundtrack! That's actually a positive note as the former CW horror TV show featured TONS of amazing underground/up-and-coming indie/alternative rock acts and it had a dark and mysterious vibe to it. While Jupiter in Velvet isn't exactly dark there is a little bit of mystery to all of this and one could favorably compare the two separate, but equally enjoyable features. But yet again why not stream it for yourself? Now that we're all wrapped up be sure to head here and hear what all the fuss is about! I can't see how you'd regret it!


PS-I'm loving how this album brings to mind so many great bands and acts! I pick up on everything from "Achtung Baby"-era U2 to a David Bowie-lead N.I.N. (that is if N.I.N. grew up on/was more influenced by psychedelic garage rock and shoegazing!).

Free Metal monday: Dogzilla-"Winnetou" Single

Self-Release/Independent
2015   

Dogzilla is new hard & heavy/sludge metal band from Tarnów, Poland. The group is comprised of guitarist/vocalist Karol Wałaszek, bassist Jakub Sroka and drummer Nikodem Zawirski and on their six minute plus (!) single, "Winnetou", you get to experience the sights and sounds of the seventies hard rock scene without leaving the comfort of your own home! Fuzzed over for your listening pleasure, "Winnetou" is a name-your-own-price download, but why not toss man's best friend a bone or two while you're at it just to show just how much you care! As the band's YouTube channel points Dogzilla are anything but a one hit wonder. But whereas that particular demo track is post-Black Sabbath love from and to seventies hard rock lovers, "Winnetou" is nothing short of highly-righteous rough rock with stone cold killer leads! From the look of things Dogzilla certainly has more to offer so why not jump of this trio's bandwagon while there's still plenty of room?
 

Brujas del Sol- Moonliner

Devouter Records
2013

And now for something completely different. Spaced-out, surf-infused, psychedelic drone anyone? Brujas del Sol are the sound of a band born out of improvisation and imagination. "Moonliner" doesn't really remind me of anyone or anything as it's like this crashing wave of fuzzy psychedelic garage rock wrecking glorious havoc on a collation of ambient, drone-loving hipsters while a bunch of old hippies have a sit in where "everyone  must get stoned!". Oddly weird and yet rather refreshing. This one must be heard to be appreciated and absorbed, but I can say/will say that this release, as odd as this sounds, sounds like home to me. And yes, I am looking for home these days so thank you "Moonliner" for providing a map.

Buy the album here:http://devouterrecords.bigcartel.com/

Red Hex-Shoulda Known 7"

Negative Fun Records
2013

I don't know about you, but I'm having fun. So why the record label name my dear comrades of all things 7 inches? I'm having a fine and dandy, better with brandy, fun time with bands like Red Hex. And you know what? This kind of fun is the sort that usually starts with "And I was drinking..." and ends with "I should have known better". "Shoulda Known" is a lot like that missing evening to me. It's all fuzzy and a bit of a blur, but judging by the disheveled state I'm in it must have been one hell of a good time! Red Hex (Which sounds more like some kind of indie beer then the name of a band, but hey, what do I know?) hail from Tacoma which, as Neko Case described it, is "a dusty old jewel in the South Puget Sound / where the factories churn / and the timber's all cut down". And this here is the result. Or it's at least what would be left of any 60s/70s garage rockers after all that factory smoke lite them up and did them in. Imagine if you will that these dusty rockers managed to, in a "You had to be there to experience it" moment, record a couple of songs that were part urban decay and part "Green Grass and High Tides". Would it make much difference at all, would it add to the authentic nature of this newly recorded "old recording" (or would it persuade you) if I mentioned how it sounded as if the band was in one room and the person who was recording this was underneath them, possibly in the basement, simply holding up a hand-held recorder? Would it take away from it's charm any? No. What it lacks in sonic refinement it more then makes up for with it's soulful take on vintage "cheap beer and cheaper women" rock. There's a sincere sense of "Kick out the Jams Moutherf***ers!" as Red Hex, fuzzy as they may be, leans heavy on the guitar crunch while lightly dusting off any nonsense about being sensitive to the audience's pop yearnings. Red Hex plays for no one but themselves even as they spin you a tale as old as time. It's a tale about a time and place when rocking out meant tuning your amps with one hand while you tried not to spill your warm beer with the other!  Red Hex are a garage rock band for those of us old enough to remember what garage rock REALLY used to sound like. Thank the God of thunder and hellfire rock and roll that bands like Red Hex just might be able to save us from the soul-takers that give us garbage like the Grammys!

http://negativefunrecords.bandcamp.com/album/shoulda-known-7 




http://www.negativefun.com/redhex/

Mothership-Mothership

Ripple Music
2013 

Contrary to popular belief rock and roll isn't quite dead. It's still got some life left in it and, if bands like Mothership have anything to do about it, it will be still be around in years to come corrupting our grand children's children. When I read this band's name it was that 2007 Led Zeppelin compilation album that came to mind, but this power trio Texas isn't just another band trying to write their own take on "Black Dog".
Yes, there are some mighty riffs worthy of Jimmy Page's approval. Mothership mean more to the game then that though. While they moved on down the road enjoying the all the sights that their travels would bring them (there is after all so much to see and do if you are a new band trying to find your groove) this young band would make plenty of pit-stops along the way. They would end up basking in southern rock (ZZ Top, Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot), they'd cut a straight line through bands like Iron Maiden and UFO and finally they would indulge in all things rock (Ted Nugent, Cream). So, bands like UFO, Molly Hatchet, Cream, Iron Maiden, ZZ Top, and more helped define Mothership's sound. I guess you could say that this is fuzzed-out southern rock meeting the whole gang (classic rock, NWOBHM and 70's hard rock) in a bar after a long, hard week at work to pound down a few cold ones. If you are a fan of all things 70's then there has never been a better time to be alive! Bands like Mothership are spreading the love and this self-titled, which sounds as if it was forged within the lava of Mount Doom (Mordor), is the perfect way to celebrate the joys of rock and roll. While this was original self-released in 2012 (Ripple Music is apparently re-issuing it in grand fashion) the production is nothing to worry about. For a band like this, who rely on the all mighty wall of fuzz, the production is more then fine. It's almost perfect for fuzzy hard rock and this album, in all it's glory, is just what my week needed.