Modern Minstrels

October Recommendations

I'll kick off the new site with an updated list of recommendations in the sidebar.

Thrice's latest effort, Vheissu, is knock-you-on-your-ass good. It was getting lots of hype on AP.net, which always makes me a bit worried that it's not going to live up to my expectations. And indeed, the first listen or two I didn't think it was anything too special. But then, it just hits you and you can't stop listening. I was talking to Mike about it, and he felt the same way. I know the screaming/hardcore music isn't for everyone, but you will find songs you'll love on the this album regardless of that. The album deserves a fuller review which I plan to do in the near future. For now I'll just highly recommend picking up the Deluxe Edition of Vheissu with the 32 page booklet where the band talks about each song and the spiffy 7" vinyl for Image of the Invisible and The Weight of Glory.

I got the re-release of Say Anything's ...is a Real Boy in the mail today. I posted about the initial release of this album here and here. This is one of those album's I've been meaning to buy for a while, but hadn't gotten around to yet. However, being able to get the 2 disc re-release for $10 was all the reason I needed. ...is a Real Boy is simply a fun album to listen to, and was lyrically one of the most entertaining albums of 2004. The songs on the bonus disk, ...was a Real Boy were originally recorded for an AIDS charity record, thus (from the CD insert) "the songs focus on a period of exploration and confusion every young man and woman goes through where they struggle to find what satisfies them sexually and emotionally." Of course the same thing could easily be said about half the songs on ...is a Real Boy. At any rate both discs are a lot of fun and you should definitely give them a listen.

Last up for CD recommendations is the new Straylight Run EP, Prepare to be Wrong which I picked up earlier this month. It's got a couple new songs, a couple proper recordings of previously released demos, and their cover of Bob Dylan's With God On Our Side which they've been playing at live shows for a while. The stand out track for me is without a doubt Hands in the Sky (Big Shot). The gradual build up from the slow, somber beginning to loud, stomping and desperate sounding vocals towards the ending gives me chills every time I listen to it. You should download the song from their PureVolume page immediately. And while you're at it, grab the amazing video. The album itself is a pretty strong anti-war album, from the album art to the content of the songs, especially Later That Year, Hands in the Sky, and obviously With God On Our Side. The CD booklet contains the following: "We would like to send our deepest love and support to the men and women who have been forced to fight this pointless and politically motivated war. We want nothing more than to see them returned home quickly and safely."