Members of Deftones stream live DJ sets on Twitch

Several members of Deftones have been live-streaming DJ sets over on Twitch. I've yet to catch one live set, but it looks as though all the set lists are being added to the band's Spotify page a few days after the live steam.

Here are the sets, so far:

Frank: http://bit.ly/frvnksdjset (17.04.2020)

Sergio: http://bit.ly/sergiosdjset (21.04.2020)

Chino: hopefully we'll get a link soon

Dave Grohl shared "pandemic Playlist" with The Atlantic

Dave Grohl (of Foo Fighters and Nirvana fame) compiled an eclectic 10 song play list to weather out the pandemic, which appeared over at The Atlantic.

Here's the the track listing:

1. The Cars - Let's go
2. Madness - Our House
3. Ahmad Jamal - Ahmad's waltz
4. LCD Soundsystem - Drunk girls
5. Alice Cooper - School's out
6. Art of Noise - Moments in love
7. The Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet with butterfly wings
8. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Linus and Lucy
9. Patsy Cline - Crazy
10. The Beatles - Here comes the Sun

I created a Deezer playlist if you want to take a listen.

Free EP from Rodrigo y Gabriela

It's been a quite while since I've downloaded anything from Noisetrade, but today's newsletter featured an EP from Rodrigo y Gabriela, which I couldn't resist. 

The Soundmaker EP features five tracks as follows;

The soundmaker (originally from 9 Dead Alive)

The Russian messenger (originally from 9 Dead Alive)

Hanuman (originally from Live in France)

Santo Domingo (originally from 11:11)

Diablo roja (originally from Rodrigo y Gabriela)

If you have not heard Rodrigo y Gabriela before, then this is a great introduction to their particular brand of music. 

Also The Soundmaker EP is available as a free download, so there is no reason as to why you shouldn't give it a listen.

Gary Clark Jr - Blak and Blu: The mixtape

It's been some time since I've posted anything music related, but here's a music post with an awesome Gary Clark Jr mixtape. Clark won the award for 'Best Traditional R&B Performance' at this year's Grammy Awards, and was also nominated for 'Best Rock Song.' Clark's music ranges from soulful R&B, to all out rock, and he puts on one hell of a performance. I was fortunate enough to see him perform live last year in Portugal, and it was one of the best shows I've seen.

This compilation, mixed by D-Nice, showcases Clark's repertoire of bluesy, R&B tracks. Some have been slightly reworked to add even more soul to them, and some have additional contributions by the likes of Big KRIT, Talib Kweli, Balil, and Alice Smith.

If you're already a fan of Gary Clark Jr, like R&B, or simply like good music, I really suggest heading over to Dat Piff to download the Blak and Blu: The mixtape for yourself.

Review of Chevelle's compililation album "Stray Arrows"

I spent most of Sunday sick in bed, while Em spent most of Sunday clothes shopping with her mom and aunt. A little before 11:00 I received a text from Em that read, "Hey do you want the Chevrolet steat arrows cd?" This was closely followed by a second message that simply said, "Chevelle."

Fortunately I knew what Em had intended to write, and let her know that I wasn't really interested in the compilation (I had assumed it was still marked at the full retail price), and that I'd probably order it online at a later date.

Em's response was, "It's. r10."

Not entirely sure if Em had left a zero off the price, or if Em had come across Chevelle's Stray Arrows on sale for that ridiculously low price, I asked her to pick it up for me anyway. While R100 wouldn't have been the the best bargain, it would still be about a third cheaper.

Upon Em's return she handed me the CD. It was marked as only being R10. As an added bonus, it bore another sticker claiming that the album contained an additional four tracks. I checked the Wikipedia article on the compilation to confirm if this was the expanded tracklist;

Deluxe Version Track list:

1. Jars (from Sci-Fi Crimes 2009)
2. Same Old Trip (from Hats Off to the Bull 2011)
3. Vitamin R (Leading Us Along) (from This Type of Thinking 2004)
4. The Red (from Wonder What's Next 2002)
5. I Get It (from Vena Sera 2007)
6. Face to the Floor (from Hats Off to the Bull 2011)
7. Saferwaters (from Vena Sera 2007)
8. Send the Pain Below (from Wonder What's Next 2002)
9. Sleep Apnea (from Sci-Fi Crimes 2009)
10. The Clincher (from This Type of Thinking 2004)
11. Open/ Point #1 (from Point #1 1999)
12. Envy (from Hats Off to the Bull 2011)
13. Hats off to the Bull (from Hats Off to the Bull 2011)
14. The Meddler (from Hats Off to the Bull 2011)
15. Closure (from Wonder What's Next 2002)
16. Fizgig (previously unreleased)

To my surprise it was. In a previous post I mentioned my relative disappointment with the selection of tracks on the collection, as there were no tracks from Chevelle's first album, and only one track from Vena Sera, while a quarter of the tracks were from the groups most recent album. The addition of the four tracks on the 'deluxe edition' at least partially addressed this, see tracks shown above in orange.

The addition of these tracks makes the compilation a lot more appealing, even to someone like me who already owns most of Chevelle's studio albums. That said, I still would have preferred the inclusion of more b-sides, covers, or live recordings of songs.

Final verdit; Stray Arrows: A collection of favorites is a worthwhile compilation to pick up if you do not own many Chevelle albums. If you have most of the recent/ popular releases, then there is no real reason to get this, unless you find it on the cheap like Em did. Lastly, if you're a die-hard collector who has to own this for Fizgig, the only previously unreleased track, then at least you wont be too disappointed, as Fizgig is a relatively strong offering, but I wouldn't consider it an essential Chevelle track.

Download Bong-Ra's 2013-2014 compilation for free

I downloaded Bong-Ra's 2013-2014 free sampler Annus Horribilus shortly after it's release last year. It has sat, neglected, in my downloads folder since then, until this morning when I was sorting through my downloaded files.

Annus Horribilus is a compilation featuring all of Bong-Ra's releases from 2013, as well as a few previews of tracks and collaborations to be released later this year. If you're into breakcore, drum & bass, or jungle, you should definitely give Annus Horribilus a listen.

Discovering this again this morning has defintely brightened my day. Ironic given the title of the compilation.

Gravy 002 compilation album

A few months ago the Gravy 001 compilation was released as a free download. The Gravy Crew has since expanded in order to showcase some new talent, and as a result Gravy 002 was born.

Gravy 002 features many of the artists from the first collection, but with the addition of some upcoming talent in the form of GrimeHouse, The Watermark High, and Maramza. 

While a few favourites like Dank are missing from this compilation, I'm fairly certain that they'll be sharing a few more tracks on future incarnations in the Gravy series.

Wishing you all a happy holiday

What better way to celebrate endure Christmas Eve than with a black metal mix-tape courtesy of Anti-Gravity Bunny? Black (Metal) Mixmas IV is over 4 hours long, contains some of the year's best offerings from the sub-genre, and is free to download. 

According to Anti-Gravity Bunny, the mix-tapes have been split into traditional (Part 1 & 2), post (Part 3), and experimental (Part 4) black metal. Each part is also short enough to be burnt onto a CD, to help facilitate the spreading of the bleakness. My new neighbours will probably never experience a Christmas quite as black as this ever again.

Bloc Party - Obscene (Kele Okereke remix)

Kele Okereke (Bloc Party) is poised to a release a compilation album that will feature a remixed version of Bloc Party's track Obscene. The remix departs from the familiar Bloc Party sound, Okereke makes the track work incredibly. The bouncy beat makes this an immediate club banger for the UK clubbing scene.

Okereke's Obscene remix will be available exclusively on the Bloc Party Tapes compilation, which will also feature tracks by artist who have influenced both the direction of Okereke, and Bloc Party's sonic exploration.

The list of contributors is quite extensive, and the number of musical genres their skills encompass is inspiring. this adds further insight into just how complicated the sound of Bloc Party has become as the band has assimilated all these sounds and ideas, and formed something new from it all.

While admittedly not for all Bloc Party fans, this is a great way to be get a feel for the type of music the band, and more particularly Kele Okereke, listen to for pleasure and when looking for inspiration. If this sounds appealing, then take a listen to this 20 minute preview, or go have a look at the full track list for Bloc Party Tapes.

A Perfect Circle live album and greatest hits compilation confirmed

Rolling Stone recently interviewed Maynard James Keenan (Tool, A Perfect Circle, Puscifer) about his various musical and comedic outputs. The most exciting piece of information (for me at least) is the announcement of a box set of live A Perfect Circle performances, and a greatest hits compilation is also in the cards.

Rolling Stone (RS): What can you tell us about the Perfect Circle box set?

Maynard James Keenan (MJK): We did a short run a couple of years ago, where we did the albums front-to-back. Three nights, three records, the whole album. And some of the songs we haven't played in eight to 10 years. Some of them we hadn't played at all. In the box that you have, you have those three CDs, and then you have us live at Red Rocks. Always fun to play Red Rocks. And that's the full DVD – that's the full live performance. And there's other bells and whistles attached to it – there is an autographed lithograph. I think five lithographs are included in the box, and there is a custom-made resin A Perfect Circle box that it all goes in. So it's kind of fun.

(RS): And from what I understand, A Perfect Circle is releasing a "greatest hits" package, too.

(MJK): Of course, record companies always have their little clause in their contract, about their right to release a greatest hits record. I think that can be kind of weird sometimes, when you see "the greatest hits," no, no – "the greatest greatest hits." Releases by a record label that the band had nothing to do with, and there's several versions of the same thing, over and over again. That's kind of why we did the DVD and the box set. If you're going to release a greatest hits, we should also offer something that's not just the old recordings, rearranged. But on that greatest hits, there's going to be the studio version of "By and Down," which is the new track that we've been working on, that we never quite got around to recording. 

Man, that custom-made resin A Perfect Circle box looks really interesting. I doubt I'll be able to afford such a lavish sounding set, but one can live in hope. The greatest hits compilation sounds less inspiring though, especially as there is only confirmation of one new song.

The greatest hits compilation, Three Sixty is due out on 19 November, while the A Perfect Circle Live: Featuring Stone and Echo box set will land ten days later.

Seether announce greatest hits complilation

Seether have just released the following announcement regarding their greatest hits compilation Seether: 2002-2013:

"Hey Guys

Johnny here. Well, it's official... We are "one of those" bands. We are at a point in our journey that we have decided to bookend this era of our career with our upcoming Greatest Hits release "Seether: 2002-2013". When we were given the task of assembling the tracklisting... we knew it wasn't going to be easy. But, believe it or not, we are also fans of the band and wanted to approach it with what would "we - a Seether fan" like to hear in a "Seether Greatest Hits."

First, it will be a 2 CD package... Disc 1 will contain all the singles everyone has come to know and love... with nothing left out, I promise.  And for the second disc, we headed into the Seether vaults for some surprise "unreleased" demos, soundtrack only songs and three new recordings.  Yes, we headed back into the studio with our compadre Brendan O' Brien and have churned out some great new music.  We had a blast working together, as always, and we are excited for you guys to hear these two spankin' brand new tracks. And for the "cherry on top" to this fantastic set... We have re-recorded our "namesake"... Veruca Salt's 1994 hit, "Seether."  Recorded and produced by us (much the same way "Careless Whisper" was)... We have put this song thru the Seether filter and churned out a version we can proudly call our own.

Think you can wait until the end of October to hear all that? I know it seems like we are torturing you but, I promise, that is not our intention.  We may not have been touring a lot this year, but now you know we haven't been sitting around either.  So, grab a beer and have piece of mind that the amazing fall weather is upon us, football season is here... and new (with a great arrangement of classic) Seether is on its way... very, very soon.

RSVP for album release day on Facebook

Much Love,

- Johnny"

I've been a fan of Seether from when they were still a relatively unheard of band Pretoria band called Saron Gas. After a name change, a few line-up changes, and a marked change in sound from the their début album, Fragile, these local boys have done really well for themselves. Front man Shaun Morgan Welgemoed still visits South Africa regularly, and occasionally plays local acoustic shows, which often feature an array of local artists providing guest vocals and the like. 

I've managed to see Shaun Morgan and guests perform twice. After the first time I immediately went out and bought Seether's live album, One Cold Night. The second time I saw him perform, it was actually a cold night, as we all got drenched in the rain. Morgan even put down his guitar and came and danced with us in the rain. It was all worth the experience. I'm really interested to see what gems are retrieved from the 'Seether vaults' for inclusion on this compilation.

Free compilation album from Cape Town's finest

Here's a free compilation album that features several of Cape Town's most inspirational electronic musicians, producers and DJs, known collectively as the Gravy Crew.

Monotreme Records offer free compilation album

Monotreme Records are celebrating their 10th anniversary by offering a compilation album for free download. The compilation, entitled From Monotreme Records with Love, features 18 tracks by various artists signed to the label. While possibly not everyone's cup of tea, this is an excellent collection featuring previously released, as well as forthcoming singles from an array of talented musicians. 

After a single listen the tracks that stood out were those by Jeniferever, Polinski, M+A, Stumbleine (feat. CoMa), Fops, Tomat, 65daysofstatic, Nedry, and Harmonious bec. Essentially half the compilation. 

From Monotreme Records with Love will almost certainly introduce you to a several new artists, while providing a welcome alternative to listening to the same cheese being repeated several times a day on the radio.

Chevelle to release compilation album

Probably one of the most underrated bands of alternative metal, Chevelle, are set to release their compilation album Stray Arrows: a collection of favorites. While it's great that they are doing so, it is more than likely as part of the contractual agreement with their record label.

I've never really been a big supporter of buying "Greatest Hits" or "Best Of" compilations released by bands that I already own a considerable portion of their discography. I tend to see such compilations as way of money hungry record labels charging people a second time round for the same music. In addition all such compilations always tend to have a sole "previously unreleased" track thrown into the mix, in order to ensure that die-hard fans and collectors will buy the compilation.

Track list:

1. Jars (from Sci-Fi Crimes 2009)
2. Same Old Trip (from Hats Off to the Bull 2011)
3. Vitamin R (Leading Us Along) (from This Type of Thinking 2004)
4. The Red (from Wonder What's Next 2002)
5. I Get It (from Vena Sera 2007)
6. Face to the Floor (from Hats Off to the Bull 2011)
7. Send the Pain Below (from Wonder What's Next 2002)
8. Sleep Apnea (from Sci-Fi Crimes 2009)
9. The Clincher (from This Type of Thinking 2004)
10. Hats off to the Bull (from Hats Off to the Bull 2011)
11. The Meddler (from Hats Off to the Bull 2011)
12. Fizgig (previously unreleased)

Disappointingly there are no tracks off the group's first album Point #1, but that is probably to be expected since they were signed to a different label at the time of its release. Another criticism is that a quarter of the tracks on this compilation are taken from the bands previous release Hats Off to the Bull. This is probably another ploy by the record label. Instead of offering those new to Chevelle a chance to listen to some of the group's older songs, the songs that most listeners will be familiar with are simply being regurgitated back at us. 

Personally I would have only used three tracks of their last album, and replaced it with an additional track from Vena Sera. While the album wasn't the strongest offering, it contains plenty of excellent tracks that have gone unnoticed by the casual Chevelle listener. The release of this compilation would have been an ideal opportunity to give such singles a second chance. I would also have liked for more b-sides, or alternative versions of the songs that have already been released, and most are familiar with. Exchanging one or two of the studio versions for a live version from one of the group's three live albums would have made this more interesting to me.

Think I'll wait until I see this album in the discount section of my local record store before I buy it. Apart from Fizgig, I already have all these tracks, and I'm sure it won't be long before Fizgig winds up on the internet for free streaming and download.