http://www.gocomics.com/luann/2012/01/27

The thing about Chevelle is that, IMO, they have lots of potential. If a band as “art-rock” & prog as Muse can explode into worldwide popularity, then so can Chevelle. Unfortunately, after their second album (2002′s alt-metal helmet-esque Wonder Whats Next), Chevelle has only decreased in popularity and exposure. Not entirely without reason ofcourse. They really did start to lose their way: 2004/5′s This Type of Thinking was just typical, amped-up modern rock. 2007′s Vena Sera was very interesting – it was amped-up music indeed, but refreshingly quick-paced, with somewhat fuzzy guitars, and shouted-but-not-screamed vocals. 2009′s Sci-Fi Crimes showed promise on the outset, with that fantastic album cover painting, the unexpected album idea, and the first single being another heavy-rocker but with another step further in ‘sound’ (mainly the different snares and the guitar tone change). It too, however, fell in value too quickly for me. Seemed like these guys just couldn’t re-produce (or use as a base) the magic of their garage-rock initial years + 1st album (Point # 1), and/or the clean-cut metal approach of thier 2nd album (WWN).

So, what now?

Well, the good first:

1. Pete Loeffler’s vocals are a highlight of Chevelle now. The man sings so melodically, its a treat to hear him go out of his usual paths – listen to the ending section of “Face to the Floor” where he sings on top of the chorus. Or check out out the two acoustic tracks, “Prima Donna” and “Indifference”.

2. The acoustic tracks are great this time around, partly due to Pete’s vocals. The other reason is that they’re not completely bare-bones acoustic. There is a synth around the end of Prima Donna, and atmospheric backing vocals in “Indifference”.

3. More guitar layering. This is a good thing because they’re just another modern hard rock band without it. They really should resort to a fourth member live, however. I cannot see just the  three of them doing justice to this album – its not fun to continuously hear the rhythm guitar only. And lead guitar without rhythm also has a short life. Then there’s the task of singing on top of all the playing.

Cons:

1. As usual, not enough evolution. The fact they they’re still churning out standard songs like “Clones” and “Face to the Floor” is disappointing. Six albums, 12+ years and they’re still evolving only in baby steps with each album.

2. Number 1 again.

3. Number 1 again.

-> Essentially, few songs are completely refreshing. Right now, I’m enjoying only 2-3 songs from the album, maybe 4 even, but thats it. The Chevelle of old blew my mind away twice, made me enjoy each of the first two albums for months. It didn’t happen with any of the subsequent albums. I don’t expect it to happen with this one either.

There is just so much there to do that they could do but they choose not to. Like, get a permanent fourth member. Get the hell out of that thick, distorted bass tone already. Put in electronic elements. Maybe let Dean (the bassist) sing a couple songs in whole. Or maybe get him to be the permanent backing vocalist rather than Pete doing that himself. Switch the drumkit, throw that stupid, typical snare sound away. Some actual, difficult solos in a few songs per album. Instrumental songs – maybe like “Interlewd”, only lengthier. Lengthy instrumental sections ala the end of “An Evening with El Diablo”. Making fast, furious 2 minute songs. Making lengthy 7 minute songs.

The top-most comments are interesting. For the first video:

man cant believe they allowed nirma 2 wear such a short skirt in those day lol

wat a slut she is

For the second video:

She was the most modest,humble,polite,grounded and down to earth lovely singer Pakistan ever had and also the most educated one. Today’s girl singers are like shit they are not even near to her in any way.

And they kind-of sum up our relationship to women – simultaneous love & hate. Love for the innocence & beauty and hate for the (apparent) promiscuity and rebellion.

(Not that I haven’t, or don’t, make the same heinous mistake though.. But I am past commenting like the first one.)

Whatever your opinions on professional wrestling.

2. Battles (Stanier!)

3. Thot/”Vegetal Noise Music”,

4. //orangenoise

5. Brian Welch

6. Battle of Mice

“Even though the tunes wander from soft jazzy meadows and explores the harder side of the rock, and sometimes delves deep into brutal metallic destruction; fear not. You might not like any or all of these genres, but still enjoy the unique blend, fusion of all of the above. It is greater than sum of all parts.”

https://sites.google.com/site/laughingskullmusic/

http://laughingskull1.bandcamp.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/LaughingSKull/254123000423

Because Open Source Hardware is so much more cooler.

.

This is a CHEAP (relatively) OS Oscilloscope for DIYers, which means that unfortunately its not geared for all projects. But if you’re in the audio domain, I think it’ll do just fine. It has only one probe, so that sucks, but maybe with the waveform storage you can save a waveform and switch right away to another on top of the old, now-static one (though you can’t do much phase measurement that way, I surmise..)

Once again, so many goldmines, so little time…

http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/dso-nano-v2-p-681.html?cPath=174

http://www.seeedstudio.com/wiki/index.php?title=DSO_Nano_v2

http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/page.html?id=3

http://thecustomgeek.com/2011/09/28/the-dso-nano-v2-pocket-oscilloscope-explained/

http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10244

http://www.adafruit.com/products/468

I can’t wait to see this whole thing to grow. And these links are just one particular point on the proverbial iceberg tip.

http://www.arcamax.com/thefunnies/babyblues/s-988643

Lord knows I’ve never lost a fight/

‘Cuz in my mind I’m always right/

I shake my head not to hear you/

I’m running in circles of my truth.

And I buy answers once a week/

We nod our heads, like drones we speak/

And there’s no way millions could be wrong/

So I know exactly where I belong.

Now with closed eyes I walk/

Now with closed ears I talk/

Let me make your mind clean/

See how much nothing means to me

It’s a good thing some of us are blessed/

To criticize your emptiness/

My fanatical eyes speak more about me that my lies

I would die for my beliefs!

Not only does the song ring true for the people of my country, but its got great bass too! Listen to that bass drum kick! And the bass guitar rumble with it! And those beautiful, water-y guitars in the end!

http://tiger-prism.deviantart.com/art/And-All-the-Stars-171906495

http://tiger-prism.deviantart.com/art/Introspection-159503853

http://www.arcamax.com/thefunnies/zits/s-979867

Ignore the dumb video, but enjoy the kick-ass song. This band is great! I’ve heard Ill at Ease, and that one’s a monster of an album. However, This is This, the album from which this song is off, I have yet to absorb fully. In other news they have a new album coming out by the end of the year/early 2012!

(psst: Guess who’s on the drums??!)

So now, I go back to an artist I had stumbled across earlier but never ‘really’ appreciated – Heinali and Matt Finney.

Check this one out:

Ambient noise beauty!

Interesting times.

I went to a brawl and a Helmet show broke out.

one of the favorite words, personally. not there yet, but i hope i don’t let go. hope i’m better than many in this.

Ass-kicking just got a new definition!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Computer-Bugs/

Ha!

fun.  serious.  sad!

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Facebook for Centenarians: Senior Citizens Learn Social Media

nice.

As adults move into older age, the spatial and social barriers they encounter start taking their toll. Isolation, loneliness, and depression are commonly experienced as family and friends move away and are less accessible, and as individual mobility and independence start to decline.

When asked “How has the Internet changed your life in any way?” — the feedback was surprisingly poignant. One participant responded saying, “We feel like we’ve joined the human race,” while another said the computer class was the best thing she’d done since her husband died. One participant’s answer was particularly staggering: “We’re not as close to the grave as we thought.”

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monstrous!

These guys have so much talent yet they waste it away on constantly radio-friendly albums. Same for Chevelle (though they may have lesser resources and had a really good high point in their first two albums) .

http://www.explosm.net/comics/1449/

(couldn’t resist.)

http://www.explosm.net/comics/1578/

http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/2011/09/08

off Unreleased 2009 by Xerxes:-

Both are unbelievably beautiful pieces of music. ‘Light’ perhaps more so because it brings up images of the video-game itself, which, too, is beautifully-drawn.

http://www.gocomics.com/bc/2011/08/15