Day: May 22, 2007

Who the heck are The Himalayans?

More importantly, who knows Adam Duritz?

Of course everyone knows the name Adam Duritz as the singer from Counting Crows. Counting Crows are the best band ever (except for the Smashing Pumpkins). They aren’t even on the same scale, but there. It’s been said. Much of my guitar playing is credited to the great songs of Counting Crows.

So before Counting Crows got together, Adam was bumming around looking for something exciting to do and he answered an ad in the paper asking for a singer of a band. This band became The Himalayans and I never knew about them until now as they re-released a remastered first (and only) album.

Turns out that the band was going to make it big but then Adam left to create Counting Crows. While this gets a little muddy in my brain, I guess there are some musicians out there that are in multiple bands and then decide to focus on one at a time. This is what happened here. Adam left for Counting Crows.

Now, what really piqued my curiosity about this album was the fact that it has turned out that Counting Crows Round Here was actually a COVER of the original which was recorded by The Himalayans! Imagine! So I picked up this album (only available from Adam’s new record label Tyrannosaurus Records if you want it) and am plesantly impressed with it.

I must admit that I have come a long way in my music tastes. I am more into the classic rock styles so this low-key alternative music isn’t exactly my thing anymore. But I managed to but my 1991 ballcap on my head and listen to the album as it should be listened to – with your frame of mind back then, and not in the year 2007.

In that, I find a great album with some great tracks intermixed with radio interviews. Essentially they wish to collect everything that the band was at this moment in time. It is strange to hear Adam sing to different songs and especially strange (yet cool) to hear the original Round Here. It’s rolling bass line holds the song in familiar territory. The album is worth picking up for this reason alone!

So there you have it. If you’re a Counting Crows fan and enjoy Adam’s great vocals, and won’t mind a different style of music from Counting Crows (but still clearly from the early 90s), then pick this album up.

Iplaying: Angels in American – The Himlayans (She Likes The Weather)

Is this a Linkin Park album or something else? Gone are the days of their hybrid of rap and rock (or nu-metal for those of you in the know). They have revamped their music entirely which I was a little scared of at first. Can a band still survive when they change their direction? I was hearing strange things from the studio – listening to a lot of Pink Floyd during the recording. How can Linkin Park survive an uprising from metal-esque screaming music to some laid back riffs?

Well, they managed to pull it off. This is definitely NOT the Linkin Park of old. Forget everything you know about them. Just appreciate this as a good album and you will love it. I cannot get this out of my stereo right now. There are some key tracks which I come back to (Valentine’s Day, Bleed It Out (which, coincidentally I heard on Saturday Night Live last week and thought it was the most horrible song ever. Clearly their live versino of the song doesn’t do it justice). They have the classic Chester vocals all over the place and a lot less of Mike Shinoda. Some of the tracks remind me of old Linkin Park (ala My December-like).

I thoroughly enjoy this album but prepare yourself for something entirely different from the Linkin Park you know and love. But you will enjoy this album if you enjoy some good music.

iplaying: Diamonds and Babies and Cars – The Himalayans (She Likes The Weather)

Hey, hey! A new Megadeth album is out! I’m sure my faithful readers know my love of Megadeth as the kings of heavy metal. I dig them more than Metallica, that’s a fer sure.

This is a follow-up to their The System Has Failed album which brought Megadeth back from the dead when there were fears that Dave Mustaine had put the beast to slumber due to him losing mobility in his arm. But he fought back and he is back with a vengeance with both his last album and this one.

I have listened to it a few times and I must say it may become one of my faves. As always, Megadeth have politicized lyrics and this album is no exception as we enter the atrocity of the current state of affairs. Their tunes Washington Is Next is reminiscent of Holy Wars (but not as good, of course!). They also re-record one of my favourite tunes – A Tout Le Monde featuring Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil on co-vocals. An excellent re-recording of the track although I prefer the solo from the original. It’s interesting to note that for the longest time everyone thought this was a song about suicide but it was really about a person facing their death – like an older person sitting there realizing that death is upon them. It’s an interesting note.

Overall, an excellent Megadeth album and I can see the new lineup in the band may become one of the better ones (alongside the classic lineup of Marty Friedman, Nick Menza and David Ellefson).

iplaying: She Likes The Weather – The Himalayans (She Likes The Weather)

I was introduced to Ted Leo and the Pharmacists by my co-worker Rob a few years ago with the Shake the Sheets album. It was a rocking album and I tend to listen to it while I’m out on a jog. Ever listen to the Strokes and it makes you feel like running? This is what this album makes you feel like. So when I heard there was a new album out from Ted Leo I scoured the entire city for it. Finally stumbling upon Music World in Orleans, I ended up with the copy with the limited edition EP along with it! Beauty!

It has some excellent tunes on it and I can see he is honing his songwriting ability. There are some good rocking tunes for the most part, and mixed up with a reggae tune and some sombre tunes makes for a decent album. I would have to say tht I enjoy Shake the Sheets better but if you are a fan of Ted Leo, I would recommend you pick up the album. I feel this will be my summer album as it has the feeling of hanging out on that porch with your friends on a sunny afternoon.

iplaying: Jaded – The Himalayans (She Likes The Weather)