George W. Bush's Legacy

Wow. That journalist has BALLS.

I can't think of a better way to summarize this year than this.

Band of the Week - Woven Hand

Here's a new segment I want to try out where I'll post some clips and links to a musical group/project that I think deserves more attention. For the first attempt of this hopefully weekly occurrence I'll begin with Woven Hand, the brainchild of former 16 Horsepower lead singer David Eugene Edwards. 

Woven Hand has been described as a mix of "alternative country, post-rock, punk, industrial music, folk rock, old-time music and native American music, among others". Along with Allmusic describing their music as "dark, gloomy, dreamy, organic and atmospheric".

Perhaps the most shocking and interesting facet of this group (at least for me) has been all the attention they have been getting from Death Metal and Black Metal musicians/fans when considering Edwards' has been quite vocal about his Christian faith (he was raised by a Nazarene preacher). Still I suppose the fascination stemming from many non-christian fans is that with the music and lyrics, Edwards creates a world of doom and gloom. It's a Christianity that doesn't seem to proclaim set lines between the divine and the heathens. Rather it pits all of humanity as damned and wretched before a wrathful God. Something that's not all that foreign from bands like Black Sabbath or Trouble nor from indie rock heroes Nick Cave or Tom Waits.

For an example of the group's wide audience check this interesting snip from an interview (here's the full text) with guitarist Morgan Steinmeyer Håkansson from Black Metal band Marduk:

CoC: So what's spinning in your CD player right now?

MSH: I listen to what I regard as the best black and death metal, for example right now I'm listening to a lot of early Morbid Angel stuff. _Altars of Madness_ and _Domination_ still remain very powerful and very heavy. I also like dark and powerful industrial music, I like classical music -- I like everything that I can find that has a soul. For example, I like two bands who are actually very Christian, but are still a lot darker than many so-called black metal bands: Sixteen Horsepower and Woven Hand.

CoC: Never heard them.

MSH: Oh my God, you should really check them out -- they're really dark and really Christian, but still extremely fascinating. I'm going to see them live on Sunday; it's really bizarre music. I like anything that can really paint pictures in my mind.

Mypace Page: http://www.myspace.com/wovenhand

Videodrome:

New Rules & Cornel West

As a way to kick start back into the groove, here's Bill Maher giving his "New Rules" on the most recent episdoe of Real Time. Hope you enjoy.

Also, I would like to add this video featuring Philosopher Cornel West visting Maher's show, before the election. West is quite possible one of the most accessible and profound philosophers that's still alive. Again, enjoy.

A Quote of Wisdom

Well of late I have decided to extend this blog beyond just the arts to topics of politics and philosophy. This will include a sort of scrap-booking of interesting quotes and following reflections from books I am reading.



Currently I just started plowing through The Portable Atheist, which is a collection of writings with atheistic and agnostic messages edited together by modern day crusader against all that is (un)Holy, Christopher Hitchens. The sampled works range from the Roman philosopher Lucretius all the way to modern day Dutch feminist and critic of Islam, Ayaan Hirsi Ali. I'm sure I'll be adding quotes from a number of sections in this impressive collection, but I'll begin with where I've most recently finished, a section of Thomas Hobbes Leviathan.

For being assured that there be causes of all things that have arrived hitherto, or shall arrive hereafter, it is impossible for a man, who continually endeavoureth to secure himself against the evil he fears, and procure the good he desireth, not to be in a perpetual solicitude of the time to come; so that every man, especially those that are over-provident, are in an estate like to that of Prometheus. For as Prometheus (which, interpreted, is the prudent man) was bound to the hill Caucasus, a place of large prospect, where an eagle, feeding on his liver, devoured in the day as much as was repaired in the night: so that man, which looks too far before him in the care of future time, hath his heart all the day long gnawed on by fear of death, poverty, or other calamity; and has no repose, nor pause of his anxiety, but in sleep...

...And in these four things, opinion of ghosts, ignorance of second causes, devotion towards what men fear, and taking of things casual for prognostics, consisteth the natural seed of religion; which, by reason of the different fancies, judgements, and passions of several men, hath grown up into ceremonies so different that those which are used by one man are for the most part ridiculous to another...

...For seeing all formed religion is founded at first upon the faith which a multitude hath in some one person, whom they believe not only to be a wise man and to labour to procure their happiness, but also to be a holy man to whom God Himself vouchsafeth to declare His will supernaturally, it followeth necessarily when they that have the government of religion shall come to have either the wisdom of those men, their sincerity, or their love suspected, or that they shall be unable to show any probable token of divine revelation, that the religion which they desire to uphold must be suspected likewise and (without the fear of the civil sword) contradicted and rejected.

-"Of Religion", Leviathan; Thomas Hobbes

There is some ambiguity about Hobbes' exact stance on religion considering the precarious situation he was in during the English Civil War. Hobbes makes clear reference to the Judaic-Christian faith as being different from what he entitles as the Gentile faiths with the former being born from divine revelation and the later created by man and his fear. However, the trick is noticed by the reader who observes how Hobbes never really makes a distinction between the false prophets of revelation and those supposedly truly in communication with God. The planting of kind words for the Judea-Christian tradition would save Hobbes from being out-right labelled an atheist (a punishable crime at the time), but clearly Hobbes seems to feel Religion is an institution of the state born from taking advantage of the populaces fears and ignorance. This is a theme central to most later atheistic attacks against religion and shows very prominently in the works of Marx and Freud.

Here is a link to the whole of "Of Religion" from Leviathan(as a part of the whole text).





Note: this is not me!

Frostbitten

Response to Tom Gabriel Fischer’s latest blog post:

Tom Gabriel Fischer, former front man of Swiss Metal legends Celtic Frost, notified back in April that he had left Celtic Frost. This sent shock waves through many in the metal world since Celtic Frost had only just released it’s heavily praised return album “Monotheist” and had successfully toured all over the globe. The band themselves were skeptical of how far the reunion would go, but as time wore on all signs seemed to be pointing towards a glorious future. Talks of a future album taking the previous venture adventurous experimenting even further and into even darker territories. Plus Tom had whispered in interviews an idea for a DVD that went beyond the conventions of anything previously done by anyone. With the album the return album and the exhilarating tours as ample foundations for such wild prospects, for a while the Metal world felt giddy in a way not felt in a long time. Of course all that was hoped now lies upon the floor like shattered glass.

In the time since then, Fischer has released a string of messages on his blog about the break-up. Overall these have been disappointing by not providing any explanation, but merely giving veiled suggestions of blame projected through whines and whelps. Most mature minds can understand this though as the emotional release of a man whose lifetime work has fallen well short of his expectations. However, for his fans the tipping point is nearing where a lack of exhibited clarity upon the situation leaves us to feel like we’re being toyed around with. The latest public announcement from Tom is no different.


What we have here is perhaps the most open revelation on what caused Celtic Frost’s second downfall and at the same time we are still left grasping for what has not been provided. Tom’s hinting has started to shape a picture where it seems Frost’s troubles were rooted in the absence of Reed St. Mark in the reunion and some still unspecific conflict of interests/vision with Martin Eric Ain along with perhaps some issues with Franco Sesa. Also in an odd sense it was at least kind of Tom to reveal that another reunion (or cancellation of this secondary demise) is out of the question for him. Yet, can this even be taken serious from one musician whom among his fellow band mates has consistently used ambiguity to pull on the emotional strings of their fans?

One could even develop the cynical opinion that this teasing on about the break-up is being used to retain the attention on the band in aspirations for some novel or other to be sold, which even then may not fully reveal the physical events that created this whole mess. Yet still perhaps people are just far too demanding of other human beings, particularly of ones whose life work have recently ended. Perhaps so, but the continued absence of a clear voice in this debacle makes it seem that this band consists of overall vain men who allowed minor problems to escalate into an atmosphere of immaturity. This has been the history of rock music where golden gods are merely masked children that never learned how to cooperate with a single living human being.

There is hope that this newel titled project, Triptykon, will be able to pick up the pieces and carry on to what Celtic Frost promised. Or as is more likely, this will illustrate how the broken chemistry of talented individuals leads to lack-luster results. Isn’t Pink Floyd evidence enough of that?


note: Honestly though, in regard to Triptykon, I hope Tom proves me wrong. Monotheist was too killer to be his last mark.


Videodrone:

The Dead Continue To Speak

Well certainly the biggest news story this week was the death (passing away is an insult) of comedian legend George Carlin. Carlin had an unbelievable talent for word play and a satirical knifed tongue that often cut deep through social norms to reveal what was really going on. He is often reflected upon having become overly cynical in his older years with nihilistic thoughts about man's future and certainly having little patience for God folk. In part this darkness, and to many accurate portrayal, was a major part of Carlin's appeal. He just plain out wouldn't accept anyone's "Bullshit"!

Well, on the lighter side the good news is that many of us in the US will be able to experience a Crepitating Bowel Erosion. Now for those not metal heads that won't make sense, but anyone who has any love for Death Metal must have jumped out of their skin when they saw that the Grind/Death Metal gods Carcass will be touring America. Finally anyone too young back in the 90's (i.e. ME) will be able to witness Carcass, minus brain injured drummer Ken Owen, perform classics off of Symphonies of Sickness, Necroticism-Descanting the Insalubrious and Heartwork. Plus, the chance to ask Jeff Walker when his next country album is coming out.

Positive and interesting events occured for Canadians as Sam Dunn's next metal film "Global Metal" is finally coming out and Rush are getting a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Gojira are working on their next album and by everything that Joe Duplantier has said it seems like it well could top their last album. Judas Priest just came out with their new video for Nostradamus entitled War, which unfortunately will universally be considered a poorly made flop. As we all wait for Metallica's new Album Death Magnetic (yea, I know) to come out, the boys have released a pretty cool video that looks back at their beginnings and their first masterpiece Kill'em All.

A string of recent sad/pathetic/odd events has included Cradle of Filth getting caught up in another free speech "persecution" for their infamous Jesus is a C*** tee-shirt, this time in Australia. QOTSA's Josh Homme continues to be a jack-ass whom you still agree with, while department store Macy's continues it's corporate vampire tradition by now marketing Jimi Hendrix, Metallica and Ozzy shirts. Kerry King embarrassed Slayer fans (and hopefully the rest of his band) by saying he's influenced now by Trivium, whom are also co-headlining with Slayer.

In futher tour news beyond Carcass it's been recently published that tours/concerts in the states are on the way for Krautrock heroes Faust, Boris, Tortoise, & Sigur Rós.

Videodrome:

Opening up Shop

So this will be my first step into the world of actually blogging. Like many of the blogs I enjoy reading, I'll be using this place to link to articles/videos/audio of interest (from culture to politics) and giving my own two cents on them. With nothing else to say, lets begin:

Links: 

• David Gilmour says Never say Never about possible Pink Floyd Reunion
  
• New Album Title and Cover for Metallica Revealed

I'm not so sure about this. Another minimalist album cover does seem to harken back to the "Black Album", but this time with perhaps some sort of Beatles "White Album" reference. Much of the buzz from the select journalists who have gotten a listen of the album are all drooling over it with claims of it being as glorious as band's legendary 80's material. Most fans though will look at these reviews with a bit of skepticism, which is something Metallica have well instilled in their fans over the years due to such odd ventures as Re-Load and St. Anger. It doesn't help though when Metallica pulls reviews from the internet and then gives them back, as the good guys at Metal Sucks reported. Of the then deleted and now resurrected reviews, one came from a writer with The Quietus who gave a fair and critical review that one can likely believe in. We'll all know when it finally comes out.

• Great video interviews with Ihsahn from Emperor and many more Black Metal musicians from Norway, courtesy of MetalKult.
• Trent Reznor possibly making Year Zero into a T.V. Series

Very cool news and hopefully it takes off. The article also mentions the prospects for this Summer's NIN tour and it sounds freakily fantastic.

Videodrome: 

Green Jello- Three Little Pigs






Meshuggah- In Death - Is Life/In Death - Is Death