viper1001 (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} viper1001) wrote,@ 2009-01-04 15:37:00 |
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A year in Review...another 'because I feel like it'.
-- This year, 2008, has seen significant changes in not only myself but the world. We had an olympics in China, which many tout to be the next Superpower, we had an economy on the brink of collapse, two elections (only one that was unnecessary this time) and the big question of the year on all fronts: is racism still a problem. The answer, of course, is yes, but not in the most obvious ways; its 'political correctness' that is breeding this racism, as it always has, with people questioning if racism is still an issue and playing favourites in order not to offend anyone. Lets all just get on with our lives instead of tip-toeing.
-- In the entertainment world we lost early on Heath Ledger, whose Joker in The Dark Knight many have called iconic (I agree), and at the same time, movies this year seem to have an interesting element: the Golden Globe noms are not consistent of films no one has heard of; lets hope that more films can come to the forefront.
-- The popular realm nearly obliterated the elitist (again in film). Films like Dark Knight, WALL.e, Iron Man recieved massive box office scores and near impeccable positive critical acclaim as well as artistic merit, each film garnering early oscar talk. Not since The Lord of the Rings has this happened, but on such large scales it makes this years oscar race one that viewers may care about; something the Academy might want to think about this year...and maybe they should re-hire Jon Stewart...it's not too late.
-- Music! Rock/Metal, in particular has seen significant life breathed into it. The bands: Meshuggah, Opeth, Gojira, Nine Inch Nails, Slipknot, Metallica, as well as new releases by Children of Bodom, a long awaited Guns N' Roses release. What strikes me as incredible about the metal releases is the progression each of these bands have taken, or in one case a regression, that has led to the best music of many of their careers.
Meshuggah: Obzen --> a theoretical exercize in rhythym and intensity that will blow your head off sonically and intellectually. To attempt thinking about how they're able to sustain their rhythyms individually let alone as a band is painful. At the same time, it is not a rehash of anything they've ever recorded, and almost their best release (that goes to their 2002 'Nothing'), but almost...it's so close. Not much more needs to be said, just heard.
Opeth: Watershed --> Their best since 'Still Life' features the band at their most dynamic and least conventional. Less a commercial demonstration of their sound (a la 'Ghost Reveries,' their first major label album), this is Opeth being Opeth. Strong song writing and an ability to transcend barriers (yes, the jazz interlude on 'Lotus Eater' is solely responsible for this incredible development). It's an Opeth album that stands as one of the strongest.
Gojira: The Way of All Flesh--> Those frenchies have really been under the radar, but their sound has been incredible, and this album is no less than that, and so much more than conventional. For dropped - D metal, they do so much with it dynamically. They know their audience and they know how to gain a new audience. Thematically they approach death, a new take since their last focused on the environment. The album's opener is intense and mind boggling with guitar texture and such a groove that I've only seen played by a band like Meshuggah or Mastodon (I really wish they had a release this year to compliment this list, as with Lamb of God, who have a new release in February). It is a breath of fresh air to see music that isn't japanese video game music making such a strong stamp on metal.
Nine Inch Nails: The Slip --> Reznor's second album in three years is far more of a rock album than electronic, but the man gets two things right that he hadn't gotten right until 'Year Zero'; song writing, and texture. He'd played around so much on 'The Fragile' and 'With Teeth' that the intensity was so decorated that here he goes back to basics of rock band dynamics: the four piece. Of course it's not NIN without the occasional electronics which are present, but strong are the typical guitar, bass, drums that it's more rock and more accessible. Reznor did away with his personal frustrations and with 'Year Zero' got political, and now he's looking outward. Only gripe with this cd is the song arrangement, the first half is full album, while the last half is mostly instrumental that after song six you could turn the album off almost. A tighter arrangement could have improved, but since it's an improvement to begin with, it's okay.
Metallica: Death Magnetic --> This is what we were promised: old Metallica in a modern age. It's what we got; the riffs, the drums, THE SOLOS. There's nothing missing. There's also nothing too new, but it's been twenty years since they've recorded anything like this (props to getting rid of Bob Rock, hack producer) so for the next album the publics expectations should be higher. It took them this long to give their fans what they wanted, we'd like to see more, but its nice to see they're on the right track.
Slipknot: All Hope is Gone --> Yes, they're a powerful group. However the playability of this record doesn't quite match any of their previous records, though it is one of their strongest. The recording and sound is bland when compared to 'Vol. 3' and especially 'Iowa', the album that sounded strong. It's nice to see a mature Slipknot, though, and that's what we got. Half of the album is, at least. The other half is a little more derivative of different areas of metal, from groove metal and ballads. The consistency that is so strong on the other albums is lost here, and that is the ultimate failing where 'Vol. 3' was such a success. Better luck next time, but a nice effort.
Consistency and persistence of direction is what marked the strongest points of 2008, along with Obama's determination in the election and the Canadian opposition developing a coalition government (still a mistake). For me, personally, I made a promise to read more, and to play more video games, and I came through on both, especially the reading, for which I am very proud. My eyes opened a little wider, for which I am glad.
To conclude I have the best of wishes for everyone else's New Year and the time to come!!!
-- This year, 2008, has seen significant changes in not only myself but the world. We had an olympics in China, which many tout to be the next Superpower, we had an economy on the brink of collapse, two elections (only one that was unnecessary this time) and the big question of the year on all fronts: is racism still a problem. The answer, of course, is yes, but not in the most obvious ways; its 'political correctness' that is breeding this racism, as it always has, with people questioning if racism is still an issue and playing favourites in order not to offend anyone. Lets all just get on with our lives instead of tip-toeing.
-- In the entertainment world we lost early on Heath Ledger, whose Joker in The Dark Knight many have called iconic (I agree), and at the same time, movies this year seem to have an interesting element: the Golden Globe noms are not consistent of films no one has heard of; lets hope that more films can come to the forefront.
-- The popular realm nearly obliterated the elitist (again in film). Films like Dark Knight, WALL.e, Iron Man recieved massive box office scores and near impeccable positive critical acclaim as well as artistic merit, each film garnering early oscar talk. Not since The Lord of the Rings has this happened, but on such large scales it makes this years oscar race one that viewers may care about; something the Academy might want to think about this year...and maybe they should re-hire Jon Stewart...it's not too late.
-- Music! Rock/Metal, in particular has seen significant life breathed into it. The bands: Meshuggah, Opeth, Gojira, Nine Inch Nails, Slipknot, Metallica, as well as new releases by Children of Bodom, a long awaited Guns N' Roses release. What strikes me as incredible about the metal releases is the progression each of these bands have taken, or in one case a regression, that has led to the best music of many of their careers.
Meshuggah: Obzen --> a theoretical exercize in rhythym and intensity that will blow your head off sonically and intellectually. To attempt thinking about how they're able to sustain their rhythyms individually let alone as a band is painful. At the same time, it is not a rehash of anything they've ever recorded, and almost their best release (that goes to their 2002 'Nothing'), but almost...it's so close. Not much more needs to be said, just heard.
Opeth: Watershed --> Their best since 'Still Life' features the band at their most dynamic and least conventional. Less a commercial demonstration of their sound (a la 'Ghost Reveries,' their first major label album), this is Opeth being Opeth. Strong song writing and an ability to transcend barriers (yes, the jazz interlude on 'Lotus Eater' is solely responsible for this incredible development). It's an Opeth album that stands as one of the strongest.
Gojira: The Way of All Flesh--> Those frenchies have really been under the radar, but their sound has been incredible, and this album is no less than that, and so much more than conventional. For dropped - D metal, they do so much with it dynamically. They know their audience and they know how to gain a new audience. Thematically they approach death, a new take since their last focused on the environment. The album's opener is intense and mind boggling with guitar texture and such a groove that I've only seen played by a band like Meshuggah or Mastodon (I really wish they had a release this year to compliment this list, as with Lamb of God, who have a new release in February). It is a breath of fresh air to see music that isn't japanese video game music making such a strong stamp on metal.
Nine Inch Nails: The Slip --> Reznor's second album in three years is far more of a rock album than electronic, but the man gets two things right that he hadn't gotten right until 'Year Zero'; song writing, and texture. He'd played around so much on 'The Fragile' and 'With Teeth' that the intensity was so decorated that here he goes back to basics of rock band dynamics: the four piece. Of course it's not NIN without the occasional electronics which are present, but strong are the typical guitar, bass, drums that it's more rock and more accessible. Reznor did away with his personal frustrations and with 'Year Zero' got political, and now he's looking outward. Only gripe with this cd is the song arrangement, the first half is full album, while the last half is mostly instrumental that after song six you could turn the album off almost. A tighter arrangement could have improved, but since it's an improvement to begin with, it's okay.
Metallica: Death Magnetic --> This is what we were promised: old Metallica in a modern age. It's what we got; the riffs, the drums, THE SOLOS. There's nothing missing. There's also nothing too new, but it's been twenty years since they've recorded anything like this (props to getting rid of Bob Rock, hack producer) so for the next album the publics expectations should be higher. It took them this long to give their fans what they wanted, we'd like to see more, but its nice to see they're on the right track.
Slipknot: All Hope is Gone --> Yes, they're a powerful group. However the playability of this record doesn't quite match any of their previous records, though it is one of their strongest. The recording and sound is bland when compared to 'Vol. 3' and especially 'Iowa', the album that sounded strong. It's nice to see a mature Slipknot, though, and that's what we got. Half of the album is, at least. The other half is a little more derivative of different areas of metal, from groove metal and ballads. The consistency that is so strong on the other albums is lost here, and that is the ultimate failing where 'Vol. 3' was such a success. Better luck next time, but a nice effort.
Consistency and persistence of direction is what marked the strongest points of 2008, along with Obama's determination in the election and the Canadian opposition developing a coalition government (still a mistake). For me, personally, I made a promise to read more, and to play more video games, and I came through on both, especially the reading, for which I am very proud. My eyes opened a little wider, for which I am glad.
To conclude I have the best of wishes for everyone else's New Year and the time to come!!!
