So, in music related news, I went to see Thrice last week. In a word, I was underwhelmed. This probably had something to do with the fact that I haven’t owned a Thrice record since 2003′s The Artist in the Ambulance, which was a stonker. I heard their newest, Beggars, in the summer while I was at the Big Cheese office, and it made me want to kill myself a bit. Grim. Don’t get me wrong, I bloody loved the songs they played that I knew, but the slow ones I didn’t know – no thanks. And the worst bit was that they played Stare At The Sun ACOUSTIC. I think most normal people like acoustic. I don’t. I spent the whole song saying “WHEN IS IT GOING TO KICK IN?” Dearie me.
They may have lacked in energy, but the same could not be said for support act We Are The Ocean. Big Cheese recently sent me their new album, Cutting Our Teeth, to review, and I am a massive fan. It’s a bit Alexisonfire, but they do it well. And their singer has a lovely Dallas Green-esque voice, which can never be a bad thing. Depressingly, their ages range between 17 and early-20s. It makes me feel old and I am only 21.
This week has mainly been dominated by the Kerrang! tour and sushi. The line up is pretty stellar – My Passion, Young Guns, All Time Low and The Blackout. Pretty stellar if you are me or a 14-year-old, anyway. I jest, it was excellent. My Passion are relatively new but have generated a huge following already. I don’t want to like what they do, but I think I’ve given in. Boys in eyeliner playing songs that sound like Avenged Sevenfold meets synths – I am a fan. Uh oh. I’ve discussed Young Guns before – probably my favourite new band, along with Blackhole. So much good stuff coming out of the UK right now. Young Guns will be huge! Thoroughly enjoyed The Blackout’s sets this week, they keep getting better and better. Cracking light show! And All Time Low deliver the best sugary pop/rock every time. My friend Ruth commented that they sound a bit like the Jonas Brothers. Unfortunately, to us, that is a compliment.
Oh dear. In other news, I recently watched Almost Famous for the first time since I was about 14. Good god, I love that film. It actually hurts my heart. If you haven’t watched it already, do so. Now.
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Old age will get to us all. Thrice especially, but I should defend them, having been a fan since “The Illusion of Safety” in 2002. I wasn’t that enthusiastic about TAITA but it has it’s place in their catalogue. Thing is, I wholeheartedly endorse the follow up “Vheissu”, which runs the gamut from serene haunting beauty to unstoppable anger. It will feature in my Top 20 of the “noughties”, no doubt.
The “element” albums after and Beggars were good, but they’ve lost a bit of fire, agreed. I think this was rammed home when a mate in OC told me that Dustin is/was a pastor at their local church.
I am certainyl going to keep my eye on Young Guns from what I’ve heard, and may have to dip into My Passion.