I’ve seen many incredible tributes over the last several days in memory of Ozzy, but this one is absolutely beyond words.
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Month: July 2025
Daddy Sang Bass
Johnny Cash took three singing lessons as a child. At the end of the third, his teacher told him he didn’t need them, to stop coming, and to never let anyone change his natural singing style.
According to biography research, Johnny began writing poems and songs as early as 12-years-old, honing in on his love for music and lyrics at an early age, which undeniably gave his talent more decades to develop. But what Johnny came by naturally was the unequaled lilt of his voice.
His mother, Carrie, sensed his vocal ability and scraped together enough cash to send him to singing lessons.
After only three lessons with his new vocal coach, his teacher found his voice so electrifyingly special that she told him to stop taking lessons and never pursue further vocal instruction.
King Ultramega
I recently learned about a passion-driven musical project honoring the life, voice, and genius of Chris Cornell (ex-Soundgarden). It’s called King Ultramega.
This endeavor is the brainchild of producer and bassist Mark Menghi.
Menghi says of the project:
It started in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, when Menghi recorded a version of ‘Rusty Cage’ with friends. What began as a creative release soon became something larger. With every step forward, the project deepened in meaning and purpose. ‘”I kept crossing the mental roadblock of ‘you are entering uncharted waters, are you sure you wanna do this?'” Menghi reflects. “Chris is one of those dudes if you cover, you better do it justice.”
The list of collaborators is pretty impressive. Kim Thayil (ex-Soundgarden), Charlie Benante (Anthrax), Joe Satriani, William DuVall (Alice in Chains), Bill Kelliher (Mastodon), Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy), Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp) among others.
Album Review: moisturizer by Wet leg
From the grinding opener “CPR,” with its sirens and churning bass evoking Cake’s “Comfort Eagle,” the record pulses with confident, confrontational vibes. Tracks like “catch these fists,” the angular lead single boasting a St. Vincent-like guitar riff, channel garage-punk flirtation and threat, while “liquidize” captures the anxious rush of infatuation. Standouts include the whimsical “mangetout,” a post-punk banger with addictive repetition and driving drums reminiscent of Smashing Pumpkins’ “1979,” and “davina mccall,” a shoegazey jangle transforming pop culture references into sweet declarations. Softer moments shine in “pond song,” confessing deep love with dynamic jangle, and the intimate closer “u and me at home,” a domestic ode to quiet affection.
Thematically, moisturizer shifts from the debut’s party-crush one-liners to all-consuming romance, with Teasdale’s detached vocals adding apathy-tinged appeal. It’s spikier and sexier, embracing nuanced femininity, though some note jarring production transitions and a dip in the original’s humor.
Overall, moisturizer is a bold, fun record that cements Wet Leg as indie rock innovators. It’s less mainstream than their debut but more personal, offering hooks that linger and vulnerability that resonates. A must-listen for those craving witty, heartfelt chaos.
My Top 10 Favorite Albums of 2024
I feel like I say this year after year. Actually, I know I do. 2024 was an outstanding year for new music. From rap to alternative to metal, I listened to many fantastic offerings.
These are my top 10 favorite albums of 2024. Favorite, not best. What gives me the right to claim something as “the best?” After all, I am but a lowly curmudgeon who sits in a dimly lit room rocking a coffee IV.
10
Maggot Mass – Pharmakon (10/4, Sacred Bones)
Pain. Margaret Chardiet expresses better than most.
Favorite track: Wither and Warp
9
Raw Blood Singing – Insect Ark (6/7, Debemur Morti Productions)
Insect Ark gets better with every release. Raw Blood Singing is the proof.
Favorite track: Youth Body Swayed
8
Orchards of a Futile Heaven – The Body & Dis Fig (2/23, Thrill Jockey)
The Body have collaborated with a multitude of artists, but one of the best is Dis Fig.
Favorite track: Dissent, Shame
7
The FORCE – LL Cool J (9/6, LL Cool J, Inc.)
With a career that spans 4 decades, LL has still got it. Check the rap with Eminem, “Murdergram Deux.”
Favorite track: Spirit of Cyrus
6
Tarantula Heart – Melvins (4/19, Ipecac Recordings)
Who starts an album with a 19:08 track? The goddamn Melvins, that’s who!
Favorite track: Pain Equals Funny
5
1 2 3 4 – Modern English (2/23, 4AD)
I saw Modern English live. They played their masterpiece After the Snow in its entirety. 1 2 3 4 is right up there as a close second.
Favorite track: Exploding
4
Songs of a Lost World – The Cure (11/1, Fiction)
The Cure’s best work since Disintegration.
Favorite track: Warsong
3
Ridiculous and Full of Blood – Julie Christmas (6/14, Red Crk)
A veteran of the music scene, Julie Christmas can do no wrong. And the more she sounds like Bjork, the more I love her music.
Favorite track: End of the World
2
Alligator Bites Never Heal – Doechii (8/30, Top Dawg/Capitol)
Doechii destroys on her third, and in my opinion, best full-length release to date. Nineteen short and sweet tracks without missing a beat.
Favorite track: Changes with every listen, but overall, it has to be “Boiled Peanuts.”
1
Released on January 26, 2024, via Deathbomb Arc, my number one album of 2024 by a landslide is The Legend of ABM by Angry Blackmen.
The Legend of ABM by Angry Blackmen is an audacious and visceral plunge into the psyche of black masculinity, capitalism, and the dystopian shadows of contemporary America. Quentin Branch and Brian Warren, the duo behind Angry Blackmen, have crafted an album that is both a sonic assault and an introspective journey, making it one of the most compelling entries in the industrial hip-hop genre for the year.
From the onset, with the track “Stanley Kubrick,” the album sets a tone of cinematic grandeur mixed with raw aggression. The production by Formants is a noisy, glitchy landscape that mirrors the chaotic, often hostile environment the duo describes. The beats are not just background noise but characters in the narrative, embodying the tension and despair of the lyrics. Tracks like “FNA” and “GRIND” exemplify this with their bombastic, distortion-heavy sounds, offering a listening experience that’s as unsettling as it is exhilarating.
A reflection of personal strife and a broader commentary on systemic issues.
Lyrically, The Legend of ABM delves into personal narratives of depression, alcoholism, and survival, with Quentin Branch‘s battle with these issues being a central theme. “Dead Men Tell No Lies,” featuring Fatboi Sharif, is particularly poignant, weaving a tale of existential dread with a hauntingly industrial backdrop. The duo’s storytelling is both a reflection of personal strife and a broader commentary on systemic issues, making each track resonate on multiple levels.
What sets this album apart is its accessibility within the noise rap scene. While acts like Dälek or clipping can sometimes lean towards the esoteric, Angry Blackmen maintain a visceral, up-front approach that echoes the urgency of Chicago drill and the lyrical acrobatics of late 2000s Lil Wayne. This makes The Legend of ABM not just an album for fans of experimental hip-hop but for anyone looking for music that confronts the darker facets of life with unapologetic force.
The Legend of ABM is a testament to Angry Blackmen‘s evolution, blending intense, noisy beats with sharp, reflective lyrics. It’s an album that demands to be heard, not just for its sonic innovation but for its bold narrative on the black experience in America.
The Legend of ABM is available on vinyl from Fat Beats.
Label: Deathbomb Arc
Release date: January 26, 2024