Obscuro! Mixtape #11...'Spring in yo soul'

Another week, another mixtape. This one's in the theme of spring. I seem to listen to a lot of soul and funk around this time of year, mostly because it's so goddamn laid back. There's a lot more 'classics' than obscurities here, but that's alright. I don't think you can hear 'Little Child, Runnin' Wild' too many times in your life. Anyhow. Here it is, for your listening pleasure. Mixed together into one long 60-minute track, like the last few mixtapes.

Obscuro! Mixtape #11 - 'Spring in yo soul' by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Album Review - Electric Wizard's "Black Masses"

I love Electric Wizard...they're just so hateful, and so slow. Any record by them is the ultimate 'put it on and watch everybody in the room take a step back' album. I blew out 2 separate sets of speakers with 'Dopethrone' a few years back. Jesus, what a loud fucking band. So, last week, their brand new record 'Black Masses' appears completely without my knowledge. I don't really keep up with shit like that. I did recently get into their last album 'Witchcult Today' (2007) which some people said was 'too poppy' for the Wiz. When it came out, I was just discovering 'Dopethrone' (2000) so I was kind of behind the times. If 'Witchcult Today' was a little more 'commercial' sounding (it really isn't...just more actual 'songs' and upbeat tempos) then 'Black Masses' is a big ol' 'fuck you up the ass' to anybody who doubted these guys (and girl.)

My immediate reaction on hearing this was 'are the drums supposed to sound like that?' (Yeah, I DID download the album...but that's because I don't buy anything without making 100% sure it's worth my money. This one definitely is.) The answer is, of course. While the Wizard is notorious for using analog gear and vintage amps to make their records, this is the first one that really COULD have come from a time warp. It sounds like they sought out microphones they knew Blue Cheer had fucked up back in the 60's. The drums are COMPLETELY buried by everything else, and the whole thing is distorted to high hell. This is a good thing.

The second thing I noticed is that the second track on the album is called 'Venus in Furs' but isn't a cover of the VU song. This is blasphemy to most hipsters. I hate hipsters, and I really don't like VU much either. Lou Reed is kind of a tool. Plus, that song is boring and this one kicks ass. This is probably one of the best Electric Wizard songs of all time. The vocals are totally fucked, and it sounds like Jus Osborn is trying really hard to sound as evil as possible on this record (something I didn't get from 'Let us Prey'....not their finest moment). Probably because he's tired of hippies being at his shows. Yeah, the Wizard smokes a TON of weed, but no, they don't love everybody (or anybody, for that matter.) Basically, this is the Wizard I loved from nihilistic rants like 'Funeralopolis.'

Another thing (from looking over the lyrics)....Electric Wizard doesn't swear at all anymore, really. This means that you can play ALL their songs on the radio! It was never a huge part of their style anyhow, but I do miss lines like "I hope this fucking world fucking burns away."

These tunes are also really catchy, in the way that 'Dunwich' from their last record was. I hesitate to say 'pop-doom,' but...Let's just say that these guys have realized that they can write songs that have chorus and still beat the shit out of you. Honestly, this stuff can't even really be compared to the classics like 'Come My Fanatics' because it's completely different. The Wizard totally knows how to do a different album every time while still maintaining the important part of their sound (the loudness and lowness)...this is an excellent way to NEVER get bad reviews (unless someone just doesn't like them overall).

Shit, I just hit 'Satyr IX.' This track is slooooooooowwwwww. Hahaha, and I totally just heard the drummer click a stick by accident. That's how you know it's a good record...it's 2010 and these guys don't give a fuck about making mistakes. The average 'modern' band sounds a little too perfect for my taste. Who knew Jus had a singing range like this, either? The ending to this track ('Satyr IX') is totally fucked, too.

I'm really digging the classic Sabbath-style vocal effects on this record. They really went over-the-top with the retro stuff this time around. Holy Fuck: 'Turn Off Your Mind' is a GREAT song. This might be even better than 'Venus in Furs.' Woah. Now there's a really creepy talking break. This album is a lot more 'interesting' than the classic Wizard sound where not much happens, but you like everything that DOES happen. I think they totally borrowed this riff in the second half of the song from somewhere but I can't place it......

OH FUCK, it's the Butthole Surfers...'100 Million People Dead' or whatever it's called. I'm guessing they probably didn't steal from them, but who knows?

Damn, there's a 'fucking' at the end of 'Scorpio Curse.' Too bad, it's a good 'un.

This last instrumental jam 'Crypt of Drugula' is interesting. Not something I'd listen to everytime I put the album on, but not a waste of space either. It's definitely creepy.

There you have it. Now go buy it from Rise Above.

Bizarro Jerry's Kutout Bin Klassics, Vol. 1

I promised more downloads, and here they are. Most people interested in music are familiar with the cutout bin--that area of the record store where the albums nobody wants are stacked with little slits in the corners so you know it's a piece of shit (in theory). However, there are always a few winners, which is what I'll be covering in this series. Basically, albums that nobody really wants to hear.

First up is Orange 9mm's 1997 album 'Tragic.' Say what you will about rap metal and idiotic acts like Limp Bizkit, but the idea isn't a bad one. Most rappers like their music to have low bass tones that vibrate car speakers. Most metal bands like their songs to have...well, low tones that vibrate speakers. Some of the best rap music is violent and angry, as is some of the best metal music. However, for some reason, very few acts seem to be able to get the sound right. Rage Against the Machine comes to mind, as do the Deftones (although they don't feature much rapping), and even groups like Faith No More.

To me, Orange 9mm have created quite possibly the best rap-metal album of all time with 'Tragic.' Sure, it's not perfect--it has a LOT of filler, and many songs feature distorted-to-shit vocals and odd production techniques, but the songs are solid and the dude can fucking sing. How about that?

Anyways, give it a play, see what you think. I like all kinds of music (if you can't tell from the show itself) and can appreciate when a band gets their sound right, even if it's not my thing. That's not the case here, though. I'll bump this shit like nobody's business.

Orange 9mm - 'Tragic'

Tracklist:

1. Fire in the Hole
2. Tragic
3. 7
4. Gun to Your Head
5. Stick Shift
6. Dead in the Water
7. Method
8. Crowd Control
9. Muted
10. Take You Away
11. Failure
12. Feel it
13. Kiss it Goodbye

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