Sunday, October 31, 2010

Happy Halloween!

After spending time at the mall and various stores over the course of the week, it became apparent how painfully cliché Halloween playlists are. One can only listen to "Thriller" and "This Is Halloween" so many times. We here at Rock'n'roll Etiquette put together a list of songs that embody the Halloween spirit in a way that "Monster Mash" does not.

1. Fall Children - AFI
2. One Hundred Years - The Cure
3. Silent Scream - T.S.O.L.
4. Bela Lugosi's Dead - Bauhaus
5. Panic in the Year Zero - Schoolyard Heroes
6. Filistata - Stolen Babies
7. Singapore - Tom Waits
8. Rasputin - Johnny Hollow
9. Thrill Kill - The Damned
10. Blue - The Birthday Massacre
11. Careful With That Axe, Eugene - Pink Floyd
12. The Walking Dead - Spinnerette

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

"Enrich the fallow soil with germs of perfection"

In honor of Bad Religion's 30th anniversary, SPIN Magazine and MySpace collaborated with various bands to put together a tribute album. As of October 19, the album has been available for download on the SPIN website... for free! The album features cover songs performed by a variety of artists, ranging from Guttermouth to Tegan and Sara to William Elliott Whitmore. With their politically charged lyrics and energetic delivery, there is no doubt that Bad Religion is one of the most well-known and influential punk bands still making music today. (Their most recent album, Dissent of Man, was released last month, by the way.) Could any of the covers on Germs of Perfection possibly do the band justice?

The answer, believe it or not, is yes. Each of the artists employs their own style to make the songs their own, which is what makes these covers so refreshing. Bands like New Politics ("Generator") and Riverboat Gamblers ("Heaven is Falling") don't stray too far from the original sound of the source material. However, others, like Switchfoot ("Sorrow") and Frank Turner ("My Poor Friend Me"), recorded acoustic covers that add new dimensions to familiar songs. The Weakerthans' version of "Sanity" might just be the strangest cover of them all, complete with bongos and an airy, folk sound.

In short, Germs of Perfection: A Tribute to Bad Religion is worth checking out. There's something for everyone on this album, whether you're a long-time Bad Religion fan, like myself, or a fan of some of the featured artists. Listen with an open mind and you might be surprised with the songs you end up enjoying.

Verdict: 3.5/5
Sounds like: What do you think?
Favorite tracks: "Suffer" (performed by Tegan and Sara), "Against the Grain" (performed by Ted Leo), "Better Off Dead" (performed by Polar Bear Club)

To download the full album for free, click here.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

All Things Heavy: Kvelertak

Need a heavy music fix? A song, video, or band to kick your teeth in with heaviness? Well then, you've come to the right place.



With music as powerful as a punch to the groin and vocals akin to a snarling wolf just before it rips your throat out, Kvelertak are gearing up to take the metal scene by storm. That is, if people can get past the language barrier.

Kvelertak, who sing in their native language of Norwegian, get their unique sound by blending elements of hardcore punk, metal, and classic rock, resulting in something totally badass. Don't believe me? Then check out the video for "Mjød," where the band is so awesome that everyone in the room decides to fight to the death to prove who their number one fan is (not what really happens) or check out their song "Sultans of Satan," where the band decides to take a break from doing their own thing mid-song to pay homage to Jimi Hendrix by playing a bit of "Foxy Lady." Actually, check them both out.

Mjød


Sultans of Satan