This site always put passion first, mine especially, but that’s hard to maintain considering how apathetic the world has become. We live in the zeitgeist of the instant fix. Social media took over the past 3 years but even that is dying in lieu of instant messaging. There is less reading and interaction, comments and sharing in this modern world…and how quickly that tsunami arrived. Sure, there’ll be the odd internet success but it’s not as free as it used to be. The corporations are taking over.

Nevertheless, and thankfully, no one can kill music! Every year, i’m amazed at the quality out there. Enjoy it, love it! One day it will return as real culture. But i, for now, shall leave this place. I have many other sites and they, as passions, also take up time that i battle to find. The world is in trouble and we need to fight the good fight. Passions have to come second. Social causes first!

Visit me at my my personal blog – www.WickedMike.com. Subscribe to my whacky world of opinions, jokes, politics, women, poetry and, of course, music…i may even transfer all of this there…and undoubtedly i’d write the occasional review. When music’s throbs this hard in my blood, it’s a part of me.

Below, i leave reviews of 2 of my favourite bands from Durban, South Africa (my old, home town). Enjoy GRYND RODD MUSE and HABIT TO.  The featured video is one of the greatest songs of all time in one of the greatest movies of all time. Watch it. Feel something!

And always keep rocking!

‘Blood & Scars’, the blasting first single, is a strong representative of what’s to come. It’s crammed with attitude; violent and self-assertive. Like other groove metallists (Pantera, Coal Chamber) before them, the songs are in-your-face, an honesty that always let’s you know where you stand…and with it is a better place to be.

Good musicianship is the foundation. Allan’s guitaring is consummately appreciative of the genre, fill of riffs but with excursions into thrash and the delightful rarity of short, melodic soling. Chris is the rock, his drumming rhythmic and well directional, possessing more excitement than ever presented before. When he gives respite the silence is made more poignant by his quick return to power. Garry’s bass is the man-at-war accompaniment. Considering the extensive history of the other band members when he joined them for the last CD, The Violence of Apathy, he was a newcomer, an oddity in this smoke-too-much crowd. But he’s drunk them under the table, shrugged off his post-grunge origins and embraced Bloodline with his best bass yet. Singers bear much responsibility as it’s too them that the general public most identifies with. Sean’s lyrics are strongest in single sentences but overall, objectively, seem too simple and repetitive yet, somehow, subjectively, become hypnotic, a rock mantra for those not seeking peace but rather release.  Some have compared his voice to Peter Hayes’ (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club). Although it’s a compliment, and i can hear it sometimes, i do find him to be more infectious in the choruses, his semi-automatic delivery as meaningful as the breakdowns.

Compliments would be incomplete without a nod to producer Brent Quinton of Sesalos Studios in Durban. He seems an unlikely choice considering his large association with radio rock, acoustic and pop acts. I’d have expected overproduction but instead he’s found the natural resonance in the band, emphasized it with subtle flair whilst retaining their grittiness.

As for the songs themselves, it’s damn difficult to choose a favourite.  In fact, i listed 7 of the 10 songs when trying to choose which has resulted in me listening to the CD on repeat. Sayings such as “balls to the walls” and “metal up your arse” aren’t cliched descriptions here, instead primal fundamentals exploring the roots of hard rock gaining the razor’s edge. GRYND RODD MUSE’s Bloodline is an exceptional contribution to 2010.

Download ‘Blood & Scars’ for free here.
Band website: www.gryndroddmuse.com

HABIT TO are sensational with their step-to-the-side delivery of alternate, prog enthused, rock ‘n roll. Jazz and classical training combines with a love for heavy to steer clear of the mainstream whilst remaining extremely accessible. That a 3-piece can deliver such a bullish sound means that each band member gives 100%. Andrew Stent thrums the bass passionately whilst Dale Wardell’s drum sticks have mastered whispers and thunders. Chillie Stent (yes, there are good genes here) eats the air and breathes it out beautifully onto her electrifying guitar.

All tracks are devotions to the heart of music but my favourite secrets are the pounding ‘Eden’, the many-layered ‘Before You Go’, the sing-a-long ‘Cast In Stone’, the psychological ‘House Without Knives’ and the multi-vocalled ‘May Night Sky’.

Having won the biggest band competition in 2006, in their home city of Durban, HABIT TO are known locally. But with this product they deserve mention in conversations about the greatest underground bands in the world.

Lead single, ‘Take Back the City’, is a solid, beat-filled tune but in no way matches previous anthem, ‘Chasing Cars’. However, there’s a lot of merit in the follow-up single, the blissfully in love ‘Crack the Shutters’. It’s big; a sing-a-long chorus makes it the most likeable. Sincerity and context compete with sickeningly sweet and win. With the exception of the fastest paced, ‘Please Just Take These Photos From My Hands’, it’s hard to distinguish the rest which could have been one long song.

Although an extremely talented producer, it was high time the band dropped Jacknife Lee (U2, The Editors) who worked with SNOW PATROL for the third time. The band needs to be consistently challenged so that they rise from pleasurable to sensational.

At this stage, in 2003, he hadn’t hit the big time in my home country of South Africa…yet. But he was becoming huge in the USA. His previous hit, ‘Your Body Is A Wonderland’, earned him a Grammy for best pop vocal performance. The song, ‘Bigger Than My Body’ reflects a personal sexiness, like when you just wake out of bed on a sunny morning and you know everything’s is going to be alright because you just believe and feel that you are simply the best. ‘Come Back to Bed’ oozes a romantic laziness.

Many of the songs sound similar but instead of boring they maintain a good mood. The same logic can be applied to an overall opinion of the CD because it isn’t the best thing you’ve ever heard but you’ll imagine yourself still listening to it months down the line.

The lyrics are evidence that his music’s driven by passion. He’s been criticized for mimicking Dave Matthew. So what? We need more of the like (but it’s to him and not DAVE that the surfer crowd is drawn to). He is talented and writes his songs based on personal experience. JOHN MAYER’S Heavier Things is real.

WATCH THIS ONE!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH0hYeDt7js

by Sarona Reddy

“Take my photo off the wall if it just won’t sing for you.”

JET’S Get Born overflows with influences that make me take a step back and ask: Are they’re cheating? You will hear OASIS, THE WHITE STRIPES, THE ROLLING STONES, THE DARKNESS, IGGY POP, THE BEATLES and ROBBIE WILLIAMS. There’s others from way back that i cannot pin which make it seems appropriate that they bear the same name as a band from the Seventies. Add generally poor lyrics and i should begin slating … but i hesitate. Despite the amalgamation of influences, i’m not calling for blood ’cause if i swallow the package as a whole, instead of parts, there’s a ghost of self that’s fun.

The upbeat is best represented by ‘Rollover D.J.” and the first two singles, ‘Are You Gonna Be My Girl’ and ‘Cold Hard Bitch’. ‘Lazy Gun’ with it’s freaky sounds is a funky great. ‘Move On’ should have been a respectful ballad but a good start and body leads into a directionless end. ‘Timothy’, another ballad, makes up for it ’cause it’s beautiful and the best track on ‘Get Born’.

JET sing “this song won’t be played on the radio” but that disaster will never happen to this Australian quartet. I hope that the next offering has it’s own identity but before that happens i’d happily check them out live.