Musical/\Revertion Song Of The Day: Remember The Prunes

As a tribute to the recently departed Mark Tulin of The Electric Prunes, today's song of the day will be none other than...an Electric Prunes song. Here it is, one of the most underrated bands of the 60's era.

RIP

Tulin Of The Electric Prunes Collapses; Smashing Pumpkins Set To Release New Music.

Mark Tulin, 62, of  1960's psychadelic rock group, The Electric Prunes, died unexpectedly on Saturday February 26th. He was helping out with the Avalon Underwater Clean-Up in Avalon, California at the time when he collapsed. Medics tried to revive him, but he was pronounced dead. RIP 11/21/1948-02/26/2011.

The group was known for their experimental take on the genre, and for the struggle which ensued between them and their label over creative control. This is one thing that seemingly scarred the musicians, Tulin included, for a very long time.

Mr. Tulin was more recently associated with alt-rock band, The Smashing Pumpkins. Having met Corgan while he was recording music with the now-departed Sky Saxon (The Seeds), he soon commenced recording demoes with the Pumpkins for their (then) upcoming release, "Teargarden by Kaleidyscope." In addition, Mark Tulin joined Billy on tour for his Sky Saxon tribute band, Spirits In The Sky during July & August of 2009. Also, he was seen playing bass for a charity performance with Corgan & friends under the moniker, Backwards Clock Society.

The Prunes' bassist is credited for contributing bass guitar on the first 4-track volume of "Teargarden by Kaleidyscope," entitled "Songs For A Sailor." Other appearances included the only 2 Smashing Pumpkins performances to ever feature a male bassist. The Record Store Day show on 4/17/10 featured Mark Tulin on bass. When the band performed "Widow Wake My Mind" from the newly released EP on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, he was also added to the live line-up. According to Billy, Mark made good friends with current drummer, Mike Byrne. 40+ years his senior, and he treated him as if they were on the same level. What a guy...he will be missed.

Now, in relation to Mr. Mark Tulin, Billy Corgan has mixed and finalized two new Smashing Pumpkins songs for release. All we wait on is his announcement of when & how. The format of "Teargarden by Kaleidyscope" may be changing, or at least the method of release could. A big announcement for the New Year is expected soon, but please respect the fact that Corgan is clearly upset about the loss of his friend, and rightfully so. Producer & friend of the band, Kerry Brown, updated his blog with a tribute to Tulin:

Ain't No Sleep When You're Living The Dream

A beautifully drawn tribute, indeed.

A track called "Zen Baby" has been described within the post, which had been mixed just days before Tulin's collapse. Originally intended for use by The Electric Prunes, Billy opted to keep it for the Pumpkins & flesh it out. Whether or not this track will be one of the next two Smashing Pumpkins songs released is open to speculation, but we do know it is a factor. Seeing as it is connected to Tulin in a way, it might just serve as a tribute of sorts from Billy & The Pumpkins. Here is the only known recording of this track in-full, derived from one of the bands' soundchecks from their tour this past summer.

Sounds good, that is for sure. More energetic than anything the band has put out in a while. Fans attending the soundchecks have reported how much better it sounded live. Looking forward to it. This studio video was recently put up on the band's facebook, and if you listen close to the lyrics and chord changes, it is the same song. In acoustic/demo form no doubt. Supposedly filmed this past Monday. "Zen Baby!"

Rest in peace, Mr. Mark Tulin.

Thom Yorke Of Radiohead: Late Night Dancer

The music video for Radiohead's new song  "The Lotus Flower" is up on Youtube. All I can say is...Thom?

Musical/\Revertion Song Of The Day: Triple Threat Tuesday!!

Seeing as I have been absent as of late, I am giving three songs today to make up for it. "Idioteque" by Radiohead. "That Golden Rule" by Biffy Clyro. "Another Morning Stoner" by ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead.

No descriptions, just listen & enjoy. :)

Musical/\Revertion Song Of The Day: Late-Night Jitters, And Some Black Eyes

"Swim with me into your blackest eyes." That is a lyric from prog-rock band Porcupine Tree's song, "Blackest Eyes" from their 2002 album, "In Absentia." The release chronicles the life and downfall of a serial killer, from birth to decrepit end. This song opens the story in a very obscure manner, and I'll be damned if it doesn't hook you right in. Starts off with some odd effects before launching into a heavy riff and bombastic drums. For fans back when this album/single dropped, it was a far cry from the Pink Floyd inspired "The Sky Moves Sideways", or the poppy soundscapes of "Stupid Dream" and "Lightbulb Sun."

This also marked the arrival of new drummer, Gavin Harrison, and a much denser, more brutal drumming style altogether. Having largely avoided the metal genre for years, Steven Wilson revitalized his interest in the scene and decided to incorporate it into his own. Combining Opeth with The Beatles & Pink Floyd sans growling vocals is no easy task, but accomplish it he did.

"In Absentia" is the first Porcupine Tree effort to draw on such influences. "Blackest Eyes," "Strip The Soul," and "Wedding Nails" all draw upon metal inspiration, among portions of other tracks.

In short, "Blackest Eyes" is a heavier track with acoustic verses, a catchy chorus and explosive drums.  The lyrics tell of a child being sung a lullaby by his mother, only to grow wild in the future. What sort of "wild", you say? A very demented sort, for sure.

"I got wiring loose inside my head
I got books that I never, ever read
I got secrets in my garden shed
I got a scar where all my urges bled
I got people underneath my bed
I got a place where all my dreams are dead
Swim with me into your blackest eyes."

 All sung in a casual, almost playful tone by Steven Wilson in his Lennon-esque voice, giving way to cascading guitar riffs. Cool song bro. Check it out:

Musical/\Revertion Song Of The Day: We're In This Together NOW

Nine Inch Nails frontman, Trent Reznor, is not to be taken lightly. Especially in his prime, when he had one of the most distinctive and desperate voices in rock culture. 5 years after the release of his hit record, "The Downward Spiral," Reznor finally decorated the year 1999 with his next studio release, "The Fragile." A double disc album based in the fragility of life & how effortlessly it can disintegrate, this record was a very strenuous and difficult listen, much like its predecessor. Yet, it is each & every portion worth it.  The track, "We're In This Together" was released as a European single in the summer of 1999.

Featuring quite possibly Trent Reznor's greatest studio vocal performance, it is a song about struggle and two people facing it, assumed to be a couple ("You're the queen and I'm the king"). This duo hinted at in the lyrics are, essentially, teetering on the edge and trying to hold on to one-another as well as everything as it shatters around them. Up against an insurmountable force, all they seem to have is a nestled hope that things will turn for the better.

And yes, I did just do one of his tracks directly after his former protege, Marilyn Manson. Whoops. Are they still cool?

Musical/\Revertion Song Of The Day: White. Coma, White.

The song of the day today happens to be my all-time favorite Marilyn Manson song. He may be dark, he may be grotesque, he may be repulsively appealing to some. His music channels (or channeled, rather) such ferocity & obscurity dressed in a satin lining. Dark to the core. Yet, his shining moment proves to be this track. Melancholy, with a softly blanketed guitar loop intro and a bittersweet winter vibe. Gentle, yet the tenacity still lingers. I will not be dissecting this track today. Just listen, put away judgement, and prepare to have a new artist to "like." I have encoded the music video intentionally, because it fits in so well with the song itself. Hailing from the 1998 release "Mechanical Animals," and the closing track of that record, here is..."Coma White."

Silverstein: Rescue Cover Art Unleashed

Here it is. Enjoy!

"Rescue". Buy it from retailers everywhere April 26th.

Steven Wilson To Discuss The Concept Record

Steven Wilson. The frontman and mastermind of UK-based progressive rock kings, Porcupine Tree, will be on the New York radio station "WNYC" at 2:15pm EST today. Steven will be joining them to discuss & dissect the "merits of a concept album." Being a complete sucker for conceptual-centered recordings & anything Steven Wilson lays his musical hands on, I'm game.

Catch the stream here, and listen intently. http://bit.ly/exie

Silverstein Announce New Album

Post-hardcore band Silverstein have announced a projected date of 4/26/2011 for their newest studio effort, "Rescue." It will be released on their new label, Hopeless Records. Two tracks from the previously released "Transitions EP" will be included on the album, titled "Sacrifice" and "Darling Harbour," respectively.  A music video is being filmed for the first single, "The Artist."

I have always adored their album artwork, and am happy to report that friend of the band and artist Martin Wittfoot will once again be contributing a painting to serve as their album cover. Here is an example of the work he provides. This is the cover of their 3rd studio album, "Arrivals & Departures," released in 2007.

If any band of this genre is worth checking out, it is them. And trust me, they are far & few in-between. Never heard of them? "A Shipwreck In The Sand" and "Discovering The Waterfront" are good choices to start with.

Enjoy, and anticipate.

-DigitalRevertion

Musical/\Revertion Song Of The Day: Lucky Number 13 (Too Much Time In The Pumpkin Patch)

Today's song of the day is a song entitled, "Lucky 13" by the alternative rock band, "The Smashing Pumpkins." It is part of a group of bside released for free online to accompany their final (at the time) album in 2000, "Machina II/the friends & enemies of modern music."

The secondary tracks served as an EP to accompany the full album, both of which served as the first record of free-album distribution over the internet. Ripped from limited pressing vinyl, and distributed over the web by dedicated fans, Corgan planned it all out. The label-released "Machina/the machines of god" was polished & produced to perfection, at times perhaps, overproduced. Come part 2, and a final farewell, this outing was raw, fuzzy & far more reminiscent of the older sound fans loved. The track was also released officially by Virgin Records through the 2-disc greatest hits compilation, on the second disc known as "Judas 0."

"Lucky 13" is one of those tracks you wouldn't expect of Corgan, but it will take you by the ears and bash you up against a wall. One of the few heavier tracks of this era, it begins with a brutally precision-locked and battering drum beat, a Jimmy Chamberlin signature. The drumming here is so full that it sounds like an entire room filled with various drummers playing the same beat. A damn monster is the only term I can muster. Billy follows suit, with an undeniably evil-sounding riff. Corgan casually croons, "It's in blood / I suppose / Breaking jars / I'm no good / As the prodigal son."

An explosive yet droning riff develops from the last word of the verse, accompanied by Jimmy's drums. "You are so fucked / It has begun / Revolution crawls / All over YOU."

The song remains very much constant, with the same parts repeating. The true highlight aside from Jimmy's pusling fills is the ring-leaders' subdued, almost vampire-esque vocals. Left & right, barking mysteriously abstract lyrics. Occasionally, his voice catches an angst-filled high, but the most intriguing thing here is his ability to sing a heavier track with such broodfully dark lyrics in such a soft tone. A trait he excels at. Rising climactically, the vocals reach a peak until falling back down to a solemn tone buried in a swirling wind of guitars.

"I'll claim my prize
I don't exist
I am divine,
A ghost with eyes."

Billy Corgan fades out as quietly as he entered the song, leaving an all too obscure closing line. Also check out the live version of this track below from the "If All Goes Wrong" documentary DVD.

 

Revolutionary YES: A New Radiohead Record Abound.

After a little over 3 years, Radiohead finally seem to be putting out yet another effort. This one is entitled, "The King Of Limbs," and will be released digitally on February 19th:

"Radiohead's new record, The King Of Limbs, is presented here with a choice of two digital formats:

• MP3 version is a 320K constant bit rate file.
• WAV version is a full CD quality uncompressed digital audio file.
• One lucky owner of the digital version of The King Of Limbs, purchased from this website, will receive a signed 2 track 12" vinyl.

The King of Limbs can be pre-ordered now and downloaded on Saturday 19th February 2011."

-accredited source: http://www.thekingoflimbs.com/ and Radiohead.

Also available for pre-order is a physical "newspaper" copy, due to ship on May 9th:

"Radiohead's new record, The King Of Limbs, is presented here as the world's first* Newspaper Album, comprising:

• Two clear 10" vinyl records in a purpose-built record sleeve.
• A compact disc.
• Many large sheets of artwork, 625 tiny pieces of artwork and a full-colour piece of oxo-degradeable plastic to hold it all together.
• The Newspaper Album comes with a digital download that is compatible with all good digital media players.
• The Newspaper Album will be shipped on Monday 9th May 2011 you can, however, enjoy the download on Saturday 19th February 2011.
• Shipping is included in the prices shown.
• One lucky owner of the digital version of The King Of Limbs, purchased from this website, will receive a signed 2 track 12" vinyl.

*perhaps"

accredited source: http://www.thekingoflimbs.com/ & Radiohead

Get on over to http://www.thekingoflimbs.com/ to reserve your copy, in either digital or physical newspaper format!

New Playlist Sidebar

It has come to my attention that I need a way to share the songs featured on this site a little easier. Therefore, Mixpod. I have installed a player to the right where I shall compile every track I review from each "Song Of The Day" post. So far, only two posts have been made on that subject, and you can see them chronologically listed in the cute little iPod box thing. Enjoy.

-DigitalRevertion

Musical/\Revertion Song Of The Day: Cancer On A Thursday

It isn't Thursday, but I couldn't resist promoting this song today. While I am not a marginally massive fan of the whole "post-hardcore" genre, this band has a select few songs which are in all actuality, quite good. This band is indeed called "Thursday", and the song I am choosing is entitled "You Were The Cancer" from their previously released record, "Common Existence."

Now, listening to the song, it starts with a beat very reminscient of industrial music, and the vibe is quite gloomy. Almost robotic, you could say. This beat loops & builds for 3 quarters of a minute, until lead-singer Geoff Rickly finally pierces the noise with an unusual array of words:

"Its the sigh of a building falling down
Its the world spinning us around
Its the slip of the surgeon's knife
And the darker crimes of common existence."

Almost instantly, I found myself taken aback that a band of this genre would pen something so inquisitive. Proof you should never judge a band by their genre, or their cover. The song title surely gives the meaning away. Still, had I never heard this before in my life & somebody played it without telling me the title, I would be doing some pondering, "Where is this going?" Moving on.

"Its a missile that's sleeping in the ground."--referring to something that is dormant, very much an acknowledgement of the fact that cancer lies within all of us, slumbering until triggered or awakened.

The industrial dress of this song acts as the backdrop for this track, the guitars & drums the crutches. Truly, the highlight here is beckoned by Geoff Rickly's solemn vocals singing the verses & chorus, and drastic screams threading through the center of the lines, "You were the cancer."

Now, one could easily argue that there is a broader meaning to this, cancer aside. It could be directed at an individual in that person's life, as they are likened to a "cancer" and drain everything away from the protagonist in this album. Surely, it could also be considered a loose interpretation of the world that we reside in.

Still, one cannot denounce the true inspiration behind the song, which is shown in the lyrics themselves. One of the more literal pieces of the song:

"In your blood there is a sad, sad song
Circulating through your nervous system
It's killing you but it's bringing me along
You were the cancer in my life
You were the cancer all the time
You were the cancer
That's all you'll ever be"

^Once again, focusing on the toll that cancer takes. As soon as it is unleashed, it pulses through the nervous system, through the blood, through the person...eventually overtaking them. They are being overthrown by this monster, and it is dragging with it everyone who cares for that individual, sucking them into the darkness, so to speak.

"It's the comfort in a bathtub full of ice
It's the promise of a peaceful afterlife
Or the string of a violin wound too tight
It's gasping for oxygen
It's a signal that's sent out over the air
At the speed of a thousand unheard prayers
It's the faith in the chemicals
A shot in the dark the size of a particle"

To me, this verse screams louder than the rest. The trust put in doctors, the faith in God that it will all shatter and reside, but to no avail. Especially the line, "Or the string of a violin wound too tight/It's gasping for oxygen." Pushed with treatments and meds and reassurance that things will get better until finally, the toll is too much and you begin to tire and gasp for air.

Why You Should Hear This
-This song is a statement that many are too petrified to make. While many musicians will address the subject of cancer & how we succumb, no song I have heard goes as in-depth as this does. People fear what they cannot fathom, and that is true in this case, as well. The disease strikes one as something to be scared pale about, and to try to understand it is a very emotionally draining task to attempt. It comes at the worst times, it strikes our strongest & our weakest, all the same. It takes what it desires, leaves no traces, only memories and disbelief. A lot of personification was used to link the disease to a human struggle. Even more, it expands on that subject and could even be utilized to describe an unhealthy person or the world at large, whether through a shattered relationship or our defects as a people.

What Thursday did with this song lyrically is admirable. What is cancer like? Listen to the song to find their take. Cancer is a very big issue, and I have met it many times before, not within me, but more as an unwanted acquaintance. This song hits me in ways I cannot describe, and I hope you all will take the time to truly listen to this song...and take away what you will.

Here is "You Were The Cancer":

3 Guitar Riffs To Blow Your Ears To Sincere Blasphemous Joy

Ever sat by the radio (back when it was actually good) and waited for something you like to come on? And then out of the static comes a song with a lead so monstrous, you practically crash the car? I know have. Therefore, riffs will be had. In threes. At least a couple times a week. Heavy metal & classic rock have been done to hell & back, so we shall avoid those. Here are the first cuts, and try not to make a mess. Descriptions unnecessary.

Musical/\Revertion Song of the Day: Alternative For Scotland

Today I will be starting a song of the day post. Every day, I will link  to a song I feel deserves some recognition, and give some insight on it. Seems right to kick it off with a song by a little-known alternative band from Glasgow, Scotland. They are called 'Aereogramme.'

The guys started off as a slightly heavy take on post-rock, yet very atmospheric & soft at the same time. Fuzzy guitars, crooning to screaming, and lyrics laced with personal reflections. One of the most underrated bands ever, and unfortunately one that saw its demise much too soon. However, fans of the band have found solace in lead singer/guitarist Craig B. & guitarist Iain Cook's newest band, 'The Unwinding Hours.' What do they have to offer? A similar sound, while not all the same. Something fresh, yet unknown.

Rambling off, the first song I will share is called "The Running Man." The Scotland based quartet wrote & recorded it for the darker (and less serene) half of their final record, 'My Heart Has A Wish That You Would Not Go.'

Why You Should Hear This:
-Very personal lyrical content.
-Song has a very derivative "doomsday" vibe, with eclectic & darkened piano undertones opening the track and pulsing throughout.
-Craig B. sings of his childhood, and preconceived ideals. Who so ever pushed these upon him is unclear, but the explosive, pseudo uplifting chorus seems to indicate a sort of light he had hoped for. One which would guide him to make the necessary actions & changes in life, perhaps the 'Lord above.'

"I thought I was open
But I was closed
And I thought I had answers
To show the world
And I thought that the good light
Would guide me home
But no"


It could be seen as his heart being closed, when he thought it was open, maybe even his mind.

In the context of the song, he seems adament on living his life the way it is, as it 'decays'. He lost his chances to bring the good of self and give what he wanted, so he is making do with it and sharing with the world his mistake. Perhaps the song even dealt with the topic of loss...one in the form of a loved one. It would seem to make sense, but seeing as there is not much info on the meaning of his lyrics out there, we must settle for what we take it as. Huzzah for some of the best bands having a lack of background due to being way too unknown.

Enjoy. Remember, if you like this, feel free to click one of the ads on the right, or search Amazon.com to preview & purchase 'My Heart Has A Wish That You Would Not Go', along with the remainder of their remarkable & buried discography.

Billy Corgan & His Pumpkins: A Brief Acknowledgement.

Midnight, and I've got one thing on my mind. Billy Corgan & The Smashing Pumpkins. Last artist standing from the 90's? Maybe not, as Alice in Chains are still making good music. However, I do believe he is one of the few. He is known for having a very distinctive vocal style, being one of a very "nasal" nature. When he sang, it would evoke each & every sort of emotion you could fathom. Lyrically, he has an indisputable and easily recognizable style, often making his own words and odd pairings to create quite an effective result.

"Candy cane walks
Down
To build a bonfire,
To break my fall."

"You're an empty promise
You're an easy chair
You're the gods forces
Struck down somewhere

You're a secret noticed
You're a mystery sky
You're a wish floating
Up to the night"

His guitar work is very much underrated, and anyone who has looked into their catalogue even a bit can tell a part he wrote from a group of songs. A unique style, simplistic...yet also complex in certain ways. BC is known for over-dubbing his guitar parts and creating odd sounding guitar riffs & arrangements.

If you have never, ever listened to two albums called 'Siamese Dream' and 'Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness', then you may have some kind of void in your musical world that needs filling. You know those pop-rock and 'emo' bands of today? Well, a lot of them are known to have been inspired by The Pumpkins. My Chemical Romance cites them as their hugest influence. And although these bands formed of the ripples of their legacy are predominantly gnats on the web of music, they were inspired with very good reason.

They started in 1988 as, more or less, a grunge band with hints of psychadelia and a very strong influence derived from the alt rock band, 'The Cure.' Billy Corgan on lead guitar & vocals. D'arcy Wretzky on bass, James Iha on guitar. To round it out, an incredibly talented young jazz enthusiast by the name of Jimmy Chamberlin on the skins. Their debut record, 'Gish', was all of this & more. Just enough to crack the barrier, so to speak. That, combined with a contribution of the song "Drown" to the popular movie soundtrack, 'Singles', made enough of a miniscule ripple in the midst of Nirvana's 'Nevermind'  to earn them the chance to record a major label follow-up.

Come 1993. After tumultuous recording sessions, pressure, drugs and depression, 'Siamese Dream' emerged from the minds of Billy Corgan & his band mates. A highly influential & successful record, one cannot deny the sincerity of a song such as "Mayonaise", the desperation of the hit single, "Disarm", the fast-paced stomp of "Geek USA" or the obscurity of the eight minute & forty-three second jam, "Silverfuck". Even 90's enthusiasts who hate Corgan will have you know that this record is a must-have. It was during these sessions that Billy was labeled as a "control freak" and a "studio-tyrant", something he would have to live with right up till the present, and probably forever.

And now, we come to 1995, and 'Mellon Collie.' Considered by many to be this band's defining moment. A sprawling, 28-track record with intricate ballads, incinerating rockers, and obscurities within. The diversity in this opus is immense, yet it all flows quite well. Key tracks include 'Zero', 'X.Y.U.', 'Muzzle', ' Thru The Eyes Of Ruby', 'Bodies', 'Where Boys Fear To Tread', and of course the classic hit you may actually be aware of, 'Tonight, Tonight'. Truly an album to endure, and I will review it in full in due-time.

'Adore', a 1998 release, and 'Machina/the machines of god' (closing their career at the time in 2000) were some of the most flawless and honest records I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. Unfortunately, they went relatively unloved through harsh criticisms and poor record sales. Many consider them to be his artistic peak, as do I. He was scathed by such negative response, which would haunt him years later.

The Pumpkins were plagued by inside-problems, drugs and Corgan's personal turmoil. They broke up in December of 2000, and Corgan soon found refuge with Jimmy in a new musical endeavor called Zwan in 2001.

After releasing a studio album, as well as writing a multitude of live material & what can be assumed to be demoes, Zwan disbanded, never to be heard from again.

Billy then opted for a long-awaited solo release, and TheFutureEmbrace was recorded & released in 2005. While the era had some very memorable cuts, it was the beginning of a fall from grace with Billy.

That same year, he took out a full-page ad in the Chicago Tribune to announce his desire to reform The Smashing Pumpkins. Him & Jimmy returned with three new members to release a lackluster record entitled, 'Zeitgeist'. The fans retracted, his voice seemed different, the lyrics were way off. The songs' arrangements were just fine, but the production of them sacrificed the quality. That coupled with a lack of sincerity on the album caused a whiplash. They toured through fall/winter of 2008, ending with a 20th Anniversary Tour filled with bad auras and an angry man singing uninspired songs. It was a dark time for the band, and through it all, BC & JC seemed to at least be on a proper (and quite dark) musical track, showcasing new material such as "As Rome Burns", "Owata", "A Song For A Son", and an extended riff-fest take on Simon & Garfunkel's gem, "The Sounds Of Silence".

 Jimmy, heeding the advice of a "Shaman"......left the band. Billy revealed the desire to carry on with a 44-song concept album with the title, 'Teargarden by Kaleidyscope'. 44 songs, free, no strings attached. All released online through smashingpumpkins.com, and with limited quantity 4 song EP boxsets released for collectors.

Many ridicule Billy for carrying on without Jimmy, let alone James & D'arcy. After seeing how Jimmy left the band due to "spiritual advice", James toured with Hanson, and D'arcy is still struggling with her own issues, I have developed a sort of respect for this man. Certainly in the sense that no matter what, it is music he is after...and the satisfaction of recognition. No drugs, no bullshit. He may not be at the top of his game, but he has his determination. The man refuses to succumb to "dad rock" or being a fondly remembered "hits band". He constantly shits on his own material for the sake of moving forward, no matter how many get in his way and wave their fingers at him. Even as he approaches middle-age, he insists that he still has to "fake it for one more show." Good on him, at least.

Back to the new project. The songs on the first EP were faded, in a bad way. Save for the closing track. EP#2 saw better reception, and leads to where we are now. Billy is planning on releasing two more songs to conclude the 10-song part 1 portion of the record.

Since TheFuture Embrace was released, Billy has hit a rock in rock.The man definitely still has it in him, without a doubt. However, it seems that all the negatives that came with his critics/fans over the years have subdued the beast. He can still shred like no other on guitar, do not overlook that. It is more so his lyrics & vocals have had a quite stale quality since the reformation in 2007, and I truly believe it resides within a fear of reception. Vocally speaking, he has a very technically-flawed singing style. And though myself and millions of others clearly see his cries & shrieks as a gift from the musical world, many others did not. The man was ridiculed for it to a high degree. Beyond that, his later Pumpkins' releases were defecated upon because they weren't..."hip", for lack of better word. Thank you, Britney Britney & NSYNC for that.

Traumatized by rejection, it would seem he is playing it a bit too safe these days. Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, thus far, is interesting. I truly enjoy 3 of the songs, and get a little bit out of the rest (save for one complete dud). Two great songs so far:

Mike Byrne (current drummer), Nicole Fiorentino (current bassist), and Jeff Schroeder (current guitarist) all seem to have given him a new-found spark in his eyes. He has let them in the studio, and already they have come up with something as mouth-watering as this little number together (which easily casts a shadow upon the recent SP material):

With a full-band once again in the studio, perhaps his "tyranny" is over, and he can find the peace of mind to find himself once more. Over & out, and I sincerely felt my first official post should be quite long. Have a good weekend!

For Those Who Have Music In Their Ears

(Guitar riff starts, track one of the record)

Greetings. I am DigitalRevertion. If you have any interest what-so-ever in music, albums, or the industry/artists, you have come to the right place. [Warning: You will not locate Lady GaGa or Justin Bieber here, so if you are searching for them in specific, I ask that you do one of two things. Either, A) Leave or B)Stuff a brick in your trap & listen close.]

(Drums follow suit and bring much needed mayhem)

Allow me to give some info about myself. I am 21 years old, but mature beyond my years. I also have a stricken sense of humor, and can be sarcastic. However, rest assured,  I am quite the sweetheart & will keep this blog clean & mature for the sake of music.

(Bassline manifests beneath the two instruments, carrying the cut to new heights)

So, anyway....

(Bombastic bridge with fireball-frenzied drum beats, coated in a candy shell)

(Track two, and a scream kicks in over a sweet as honey bassline)

My apologies. Got carried away. If you were to ask me my tastes, I would probably say what I am about to say. To me, The Smashing Pumpkins are the greatest band of all time (1988-2000, predominantly), and Billy Corgan is the best songwriter & lyricist to come out of the 90's. Vocally, he conveyed emotion like no other.

Porcupine Tree is not far from the top, taking second place with ease. Steven Wilson nearly rivals Billy Corgan in terms of songwriting skill and sheer diversity of style and music. Imagine The Beatles crossed Pink Floyd. Later (and more recently), keep specks of those same influences, and breed them with Dream Theater with a touch of Opeth to create his newest muse. Wilson has a one-up on Corgan in the sense that he has built his fanbase from the underground up since 1991. Now, he has quite a massive following, as well as a niche in a record company that does not sacrifice his artistic integrity.

That said, I truly hope The Pumpkins re-emerge from the abyss with Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, and the best of luck to Billy. I will touch further on this subject in the future.

Following them, my top favorites would include Alice in Chains, Marilyn Manson, Biffy Clyro, Nine Inch Nails, AFI, Aereogramme, Screaming Trees, Silverstein, Manic Street Preachers, Lunatic Soul, Radiohead, and Tegan & Sara.

I will not get into specifics for the sake of keeping your eyes open. That is some decent diversity in taste right there, but it does not stop there. See my facebook for a more complete list of artists.

For now, I have to go to work, and will possibly update this tonight if I can. First true subject matter of the next blog post will be: Billy Corgan & His Pumpkins: A Brief Acknowledgement.

Stay true to your tastes, and do not allow me to sway you. Or maybe you should. Later,


--Digital Revertion

(soloing)

(record ends, leaving entire room speechless)