Shock and Awe

I aint done got me a new cd in ages:

Benassi's show was incredible and I have wanted for some time to post a proper review. My only problem was that I couldnt put to words what I heard that night. It was something of a departure from his usual sets, but what exactly was it? The tour was in support of his new cd Cooking for Pump-Kin so to gather insiration I decided to at least pick it up and give it a listen. Now I can't stop. Its the usual deep bass driven house that has become his signature sound but now deeply infused with trance influences. Right? I can't tell you, this something you have to listen to for yourself. All I can say is that its insanely addictive and like nothing Ive ever heard before.

Taken from the liner notes:

"I wanted to do this tour across Canada in a bus and not by plane to get to know the country a little better. I've played my sets in various towns over the past few years and I've always wanted to come back and explore. I also thought it would be a good idea to have a kind of souvenir of my canadian journey to share with all the people who come out to party when I play. Thats the reason behind this compilation."

Oh yeah, about my lack of entries recently . . .

Get ready for an update yall, here it comes . . . .

Benny Benassi: Rox Ma Sox. Lost my partner in crime before the show even started and went solo. Waited in line for most of the night out in the cold (One giant middle finger goes out to security and management at the Fever Nightclub for making this a regular occurance). Had some drinks, danced like an idiot and got hit on by some drunk chicks. Went home, showered, ate then went to work. Signed in while still half deaf.

Cradle of Filth: Thanks to View magazine I got myself on the guest list and bypassed one of the biggest, slowest lineups Ive seen all year (Another giant middle finger goes out to security and management at the Edmonton Events Center for making this a regular occurance) . Got first dibs on the merch and choice seats in the beer garden. Lost my partner in crime in the mosh pit and enjoyed the rest of the show from the relative safety of the beer garden. Got hit on by some drunk chick. Went home, showered, napped, ate then went to work. Signed in while still half deaf.

Mikes 30th: Spent with the coolest guys I work with and had a complete blast. It included pool, some fine mini golfin and a round of laser tag. We hit Whyte ave where we met up with the boss and got drank nearly under the table. Got hit on by a drunk chick. Caught a cab, went to work and had a quick nap in the change room. Signed in while still half deaf and very possibly still under the influence. (Happy birthday Mike, I will be a 90 year old alzheimers patient and still remember that night.)

Up Next: Return of the A-Team . . .

Done and Done

Thanks to a bout of sleeplessness I have finally completed something I have been trying all week to accomplish: Record my very first mix. Its almost 60 minutes long and features the likes of Korn, Orgy, Mobile and even U2. This was probably in an effort to win over some of my friends who predominantly listen to rock. However they are all awesome remixes and thanks to a few other choice cuts and and a very carefully selected song order the cd has an amazing flow and lots of energy. Until I can find a good place to host the mp3 you'll have to get the file directly from me at johnstraat@hotmail.com If you know me personally then I probably already dropped a couple of copies in your mailbox. Just kidding. Sort of.

Is it just me . . .

I was turned on to Lisa Lashes by an online friend who happens to be a huge fan. Lisa Lashes is a phenomenal dj and I truly regret missing what was sure to be an amazing show. A recently acquired bootleg has been keeping my car stereo busy for sometime now and in this particular mix there is one song that stands out. It contains a sample of a speech so full of dramatic pauses that even George W. Bush himself is put to shame. I have recreated the speech for you here and cut it up according to these insanely long pauses:

We have learned.
That war.
Is not necessarily.
Better.
And if we can neither.
Answer all questions nor solve.
All problems.
We cannot afford to do.
Everything.
As we meet the future.
So together.
In a spirit.
Of individual sacrifice for the common good.
We must.
Simply.
Do our best.

Firstly: Does anybody know where this speech is from? Secondly: Is it not the most cliched, contrived, nonsensical, half-assed speech you've ever read in your life?

The Remix

If I were tell any of my friends that I own the latest releases from the likes of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Paris Hilton I doubt any of them would believe me. If I were to tell them that not only did I pay cash for these songs but I even greatly enjoy them, I am fairly certain that I may just find myself in a much graver situation. These things however are in fact the truth and thanks to the remix I don't have to be ashamed.
As I build up my collection I find again and again that the remix truly makes anything cool. After two years plus of constant exposure to EZrock (and many months of therapy) I am still surprised to browse through my little collection and find artists such as Rod Stewart, George Michaels and Simply Red. Months ago it just wouldn't have happened. To all you anonymous remixers out there; keep up the good work. You know your doing a good job when you make me want to buy something from Rod Stewart then tell all my friends about it.

Words of Wisdom

I (like most sane persons) am not one for taking orders from my hotmail inbox. If I did I would surely be rich from all of these "exclusive" stock tips that I recieve on a regular basis . At the very least Id be able to afford all of that Viagra thats waiting for me. As you can see above there are exceptions to the rule. Needless to say I will be visiting my nearest ticketmaster retailer at my earliest convenience.

Fear Factory

Some of my friends are a little worried that I'd forsake my strict metal upbringing and abandon them for techno. Worry not. In fact (thanks to my recent club excursions) I find myself even thirstier for a little musical mayhem. Last night I braved the elements to be part of one of the more significant shows this year had to offer in extreme metal: the much anticipated Fear Factory concert.
The night started with Decapitated. I'll be honest, Im not actually familiar with their music at all. I even skipped the show so I could avoid that inevitable line up. That plan didn't work at all. That line was still there when I arrived and (like a good little fanboy) I waited it out for its entire length in -15 degree weather. I wonder if anybody saw the first act at all.
The most crucial part of my plan was to make it to the show just in time to see Hypocrisy. That plan worked. As soon as I stepped into the club Hypocrisy took the stage and the night truly began. Being a big big fan of Peter Tatgren it was a hell of an experience for me to see him in person. Peter and the crew laid the crowd to waste with a beautiful selection from their ten year history and reinforced their classics with choice cuts off their new cd. I've seen many clips of Hypocrisy on stage but nothing matches the experience.
Suffocation took to the stage next and even though Im not familiar with their music either I was not dissapointed. Before bludgeoning us all to death the lead "singer" announced the MIA status of his bassist who fell victim to our vicious canadian winter. The played on without him and the resulting sound was crisp, clean and punishing beyond all words. Im not going to decry the importance of a bassist in a band but the sound heard on the stage for this performance was by far the best all night.
Then came the moment I had been waiting for. This is the third time Ive seen Fear Factory and I can honestly say that this truly was their strongest performance to date. Due to the intensity of their shows FF at times can be a little sloppy but this was not the case tonight.
After starting the set with a devastating track off their new album FF went back to their earliest songs and worked their way up from there. Even though they were fully capable of slowing things down they never did. This made for one very intense evening and one very happy crowd. Burton C. Bell seems more comfortable on stage then ever before and his vocals have never been better. Suprisingly enough Christian Olde Wolbers pitched in with backing vocals. It was so convincing that I have to admit: it may very well have been a prerecording of Burton himself.
My favourite memory from this show will be Burton telling the crowd that we were the most intense, energetic crowd he has seen yet on this tour, a comment made by all bands preceding FF. Clearly I am not the only one who had the time of their life.