The Genres this week have a little broader range, though "Clandestine" most definitely ROCKS! But this Band, as well as the featured "Album Capsules" are for the Global "Indie" Arts. There's a Revolution going on in the Arts and it's coming to a town near you REAL SOON.
And I'm going to help it ALL I can.
There was an article recently posted by another 'Viner' about the "Chart The Music Business Doesn't Want You To See..."What we have here is an embedded system that has virtually controlled what you see and hear over traditional, and to a lesser extent, Cable and Satellite Media. The Music and Other Forms of Media handled and distributed is mostly controlled by a handful of large corporations.
Understand, I'm not against businesses succeeding, but I want to see and hear EVERYTHING that is available for my entertainment, especially at the prices you must pay to get it. I don't feel that the majority of the best Art, Media, or Music is even being exposed to the American Consumer, unless like me, they've gotten fed up with the Corporate dominated "Formatted" Radio, Cable, and Satellite choices offered, and have gone to the Web to see what else is out there.
So, THAT'S what I'm going to write about-the other choices. There is some tremendous Talent, not only in the Rest of the Planet, but awesome 'Indie' talent here that has been equally marginalized.
Hey, I'm not saying EVERYTHING that the "Traditional American Media Giants " do is bad, but some of it, frankly, isn't that good. I'm not going to name Bands or individual Artists, but if you're truly honest with yourself, you KNOW who they are. You heard a song on the Radio or TV over and over again. All the Music "Pundits" tell you how great it is. The buzz builds, because the Song and/or the Album it's on has made it into the "Top 10", so you go spend your $15-20 for it, so you can have it to "wow" your friends.
That was four or five months ago, how often are listening to it now? I wouldn't be surprised if you have a number of CD's or downloads you only listened to for a few weeks, (until the NEXT big thing started getting promoted) and have mostly forgotten.
There ARE some great Artists on Major labels, but that doesn't equal saying that ALL Artists promoted by those labels are great. How would anyone REALLY know, when most "Music Writers" are comparing Apples with Apples.
So, I'm going to toss out a few "Oranges". No one's paying or bribing me to do it. If find something I see Or hear that I honestly LIKE, that's what I'm going to share. Some ARE just starting out in their respective careers-but MANY are "Seasoned Veterans" who have Sell-Out Shows and Gold Records on the Wall. (And I'm NOT going to tell you which is which-if YOU want to know what's going on, I'll direct you where to look, but you'll have to do your own looking.)
This week, I'm introducing Clandestine and some Album Choices from those I've heard this week. I hope you'll check them out and decide for yourself whether they're something you want in your CD Player, MP3 Player, or IPod.
I really don't expect you to like everything, but TRY it before you "thumb your nose" at it-fair enough?
Clandestine
About Clandestine( Condensed From Their Own Words):
Formed in 2006 in Los Angeles, Clandestine has been redefining progressive rock/metal and making waves in the underground scene. Their 2006 EP gained international recognition and won them the title of "Best Female Fronted Band" by a Los Angeles magazine. Melding pounding rhythms and lush textures with soaring melodic vocals, the music garnered undeniable reviews from critics worldwide.
The band is now ready to release their much-anticipated full length follow up album entitled, "The Invalid". Producer Sylvia Massy, who is best known for her work with System of a Down and Tool, got wind of the band's project and reached out to put the album over the top. The band also solidified a new lineup, one that now features Sammy J. Watson from The Apex Theory on drums who brings his very unique and powerful flavor to the mix.
The new album again pushes boundaries between progressive, modern rock, metal, and even more mainstream audiences. The band's ultimate goal is combining diverse influences and styles that mark a new generation with an unnamed creation. They refuse to follow what the mainstream sets as a rule for present time because when something is defined by words, it already belongs to the past. As a progressive band, that's why Clandestine strives to find the sonic missing link between the past and future and does not represent a trend.
June - Vocals, synth programming
Dan Durakovich - Guitars, synth programming
Mark Valencia - Bass
Sammy J. Watson – Drums
http://www.myspace.com/clandestineband
Discography:
Clandestine (2006 EP)
1. D.O.D.
2. My Lord
3. Far From the Light
4. Bleed on Me
The Invalid (2009)
1. Fearless
2. Disappear in You
3. Silent Sin
4. Philistine
5. Pretend
6. Fracture
7. Dead to the World
8. Phantom Pain
9. The Invalid
10. Comatose
Dr Dexter Says:
I've gotten to know June and Dan through E-Mail communications and the Band from listening to their Music. One of the Important things about music I write about and recommend is that I actually LIKE the Music and have often gotten to know the people well enough to at least have the beginnings of "Like" for them. These folks work hard, pour a lot of their respective souls into Performance, and have Heart.
I've gotten to know June a little more than the rest. She hails from South Korea, coming to this country to be involved with music that had a little more edge. She writes, programs, sings, plays, and if the Band has a "Center", she's it.
When she's on stage or in production, she's serious about what needs to be done and what's getting done. She has one of the strongest stage personas in Modern Rock Music.
Yet, she also has a "soft side". She is whimsical, smiles easily, is compassionate, and loves animals. I fact, she has quite a menagerie, that you can see from her personal photos are much more than just pets. Any human can feign love for animals, but if you look at the way her "kids" interact with her, you can see that the relationship exists and is warmly two-sided.
She and Dan have been extraordinarily helpful in gathering the materials I requested for this article. They're the real deal. They're good people…Pure…Plain…and Simple.
You should Listen to them, go see them if you can, and buy or download their Albums.
This link takes you to their Video Single Release of "Invalid":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMtGuA8rmRE
That's all I have time to do this week, but there's much more to come. this week still was related to my "Central Interests", but as I've promised, I WILL be bringing the BEST I can find from EVERY Genre of Music, as well as introducing the Stars of the other Media Arts. so, until next time,
The Arts Are Global!
Albums Dexter Heard And Liked:
Somnambulist
By (sic)Monic
(Sic)Monic from Arizona are ready to release their new album on Aural Music. Titled "Somnambulist", this album has surpassed the traditional Metal/Hard Rock sound and forged a new blend of emotion, human experience, and trials and tribulations that make up everyday life... Drawing from influences ranging from jazz fusion to death metal or progressive rock, the band intertwine an intricate yet catchy composition of Heavy, Heady, Heavenly, and some times plain un-categorical sound.
"Sicmonic is heavy rock at its best" quotes Billboard Magazine
Official Track listing:
1. To the Fiendz
2. Till the morning light
3. Somnambulist
4. illumination
5. of blood and grace
6. requiem
7. Oxygen
8. no conscience
9. Just how Far Down do you want to go?
10. paradiseum
11. acidic epiphanies
bonus tracks:
12. fist to throat
13. seven inches deep
14. hypnotic
15. devil went down to georgia
Their My Space Page:
http://www.myspace.com/sicmonic
Videos Of Their Songs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMT1evTjdVk&feature=player_embedded
"An Ocean Of Dreams"
By MindMovie
TRACK LIST:
1. Theme for an Imaginary Mindmovie 7:52
2. Planet Passion IV 4:16
3. Mekon Peppers 4:33
4. Secret Lies 5:21
5. Dark Tower 5:22
6. Journey through the Outlands 5:32
7. Moonmaiden 4:37
8. Just the Thought of You 5:14
9. On the Floor 5:21
10. Holy 4:08
11. A Space Based Utopia 5:35
12. Mahe 5:58
13. A New Kind of Man 5:04
14. Is It a Dream 6:06
15. For the One's We Love 4:50
SOLO PILOT:
Achim Wierschem – various instruments
With:
Gregor Hilden – guitars (3, 7, 13, 14)
Jef De Corte – piano (6, 8, 10, 15)
Artie Q – vocals (8, 14)
Mike Pearse – vocals (4)
Andres Rexach – guitars, sitar (2)
Peter Figge – keyboards (6)
Hans Wende – bass (6)
MindMovie on MySpace:
www.myspace.com/httpwwwmyspacecommindmovie
Band Page:
http://www.flaming-bess.de
"King Of The Universe"
By Yotangor
YOTANGOR - King of the Universe
2CD Digipack 13 & 13 titres (Metal Symphonique / France - Toulouse) 2009
CD1
01. Speech 1'39
02. Opening 3'06
03. Silent Words 2'48
04. Try Again 5'00
05. About Love 3'39
06. Hangin' on 3'39
07. Another Place 6'22
08. Torched Blazed 3'23
09. Drums from the Earth 1'01
10. Our Land 6'24
11. All We Are 3'36
12. Feeling Down 3'21
13. Motherless Child 4'15
CD 2
01. The Only Way 4'27
02. What Are You Made for 4'01
03. Why 3'55
04. Power 3'14
05. Song for the Sons 2'08
06. Rain 4'02
07. The Spirits Dance 3'53
08. The Dome 3'31
09. Time's Off 3'54
10. Turn Off the Light 4'57
11. Shadows 4'36
12. In This World 4'59
13. Fly Away 4'11
YOTANGOR is a French Metal band from Toulouse (south of France); the first album is a Symphonic Metal Opera, calling "King of the Universe", talking about the way of a modern dictator who ignores consequences of his acts. The line up has worked since 2 years in studio on the album and on the promotion tour.br> Yotangor, despot self-proclaimed King of the Universe in his disproportion and its megalomania led the world and its people to chaos. The day of its death, behind the doors of Paradise and Hell he asks that a chance be granted to him to repurchase itself. It is returned on ground in order to repair its faults, by propagating the good, here begins the hard way of its redemption, in uprightness and honesty.
My space for Yotangor:
http://www.myspace.com/yotangor
"About Love" Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp-a_gw5kBA