Cynic - Veil of Maya

Song Review

Lyrics - Hear the Song @ Progarchives

Genre classifications are useful for conveying a large amount of musical information in a short space. If you say "This is a polka song," everyone has a fair idea of what it will sound like. However, they can lead to shortcuts and myopia when dealing with new or unfamiliar music. Many listeners avoid certain genres completely out of misguided assumptions or exposure only to the most mainstream (and usually weakest) examples of that genre. Country music is dismissed as bland, middle-of-the-road singer-songwriter wannabes; hip-hop and rap are dismissed as black men flaunting their riches and misogynist sensibilities; entire genres become unfairly stereotyped and dismissed.[1]

Veil of Maya is classified as a death metal song. Any reader who isn't a metal fan will base their opinion off of that single term and move on. I say "classified", because it certainly wasn't the genre I associated the song with, and while there are a few characteristics of "death metal", I believe this music deserves to be heard by more than just death metal fans.

Sure, Veil of Maya has heavy distorted guitarwork, and death growls. These can be offputting, but distorted guitar is no unknown quantity to anyone exposed to rock music, and while I'm no fan of the death growl, it's only marginally worse than vocals employed by MCR. The band has two vocalists, the other a digitally processed "robot-voice"[2] which contribute to the uniqueness of the music.

The song has been equally described as "jazzy"[3][4], most notable when the metal intro to the song segues effortlessly into an atmospheric, calm and relaxing interlude that conjures images of the ocean.

The lyrics are philosophical and somewhat spiritual, discussing duality and Mayan mythology (as the title suggests). Not exactly what comes to mind when you think of "death metal".

The musicians are all highly proficient, and though it may take a few listens to get past prejudices and appreciate the song, most music demands active listening and multiple hearings. In a decade that propagated passive listeners too afraid to go beyond their familiar ground, unusual and vital music that pushed boundaries is a welcome change.

[1] Matt Brennan "The rough guide to critics: musicians discuss the role of the music press" Popular Music, Volume 25, Issue 02, May 2006, pp 221-234

King Crimson - Dinosaur

Song Review

Lyrics - Live Performance on Late Night w/ Conan O'Brien

King Crimson is criminally underrated. The band members who played on this song alone, have worked with such famous and varied artists as:

-Genesis
-Frank Zappa
-Nine Inch Nails
-Talking Heads
-Brian Eno
-Blondie
-Tori Amos
-Seal
-Pink Floyd
-Cher
-Tina Arena
-Tim Finn

as well as putting out 13 albums, each one amazing. That the bassist who played on Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer", the guitarist who created the hypnotic guitar hook on David Bowie's "Heroes", the drummer who played on Mr. Mister's hit "Broken Wings", and the singer/guitarist who contributed to landmark albums "Remain in Light", "Graceland" and "The Downward Spiral", as well as appearing on Rockwiz, can be in the band that I personally (just opinion) believe is the greatest rock band ever...and yet barely anyone has even heard of them, baffles me.

But enough elitist fanboy histrionics. "Dinosaur" is a song from their 1995 album, "THRAK". This album features the "double-trio", an odd experiment involving two guitarists, two bassists, and two drummers. It's a novel idea, but when listening I don't really notice more than one drummer or bassist.

The song opens with guitarist Robert Fripp, playing an orchestral MIDI guitar line. King Crimson are no strangers to cutting-edge technology; in the 80s their drummer Bill Bruford revolutionised electronic drums, and Fripp himself devised (with Eno) a looping system involving tape machines, which seems quaint nowadays but was unheard of in 1974 (at least, in rock music).

This pensive intro gives way to crashing drums and distorted guitar. The main riff, an ever-constant alarm, is laid over crunchy chords and an inventive drum pattern. The first verse cools off, before dynamically leading into the ominous chorus.

The Adrian Belew-penned lyrics use the dinosaur as a metaphor for the protagonist's outlook on life. "Ignorance has always been something I excel in...Doesn't take a scientist to see how any clever predator could have a piece of me"; "when I look back on the past it's a wonder I'm not yet extinct". I've felt the way the song describes many a time, and in the end, emotion is the most important aspect of a song.

The middle section, a quiet ambient instrumental break with a MIDI guitar solo, this time sounding like a clarinet, allows quick respite before the main riff returns, and Fripp unleashes "a searing solo that pins you to the wall" [1]. The final chorus, where Belew howls "IIIIIII'M A DINOSAUR!" is one of those well-pulled off moments that could feel so daggy in a less impressive setting.

I may prefer King Crimson's 70s and 80s output more, but Dinosaur is a high-point for the band, and for the decade. Given Conan O'Brien's now starting at The Tonight Show, it's a happy coincidence that I discovered King Crimson performed Dinosaur on his show back in 1995.

Nirvana, The 90s and The Drug Scene

In the birth place of grunge rock during the late 80s, heroine was the drug of choice. Being isolated from the american music scene, artists turned to hard drugs, quite often for inspiration for their music and lyrics.

When the grunge artists became rock stars the drug use turned to a higher level, with many artists dying from overdoses including Andy Wood and Stephanie Sergeant. Many artists wrote songs about their struggles with drugs, Alice in Chains "Drug of Choice" was one such song. It seemed wrong that people liked these songs and the artists, who were singing about their troubles and problems with drugs.

Despite the large number of deaths of artists, heroine was still the number one drug for the rock stars of the 90s, with a number of deaths occurring because of it.

Nirvana's frontman Kurt Cobain was one such artist who suffered the perils of drug addiction, using heroine as an escape from the rock star world he despised so much. While Cobain did check himself into a rehab clinic, he left 4 days later.

Cobain's troubles with fame and heroine ended when he committed suicide. He had used a huge amount of heroine then shot himself in the head.

While one could never say the outcome of drug use or addiction is in anyway anything but horrific, the gunge music scene would have been so different if it weren't for the drugs. Can you imagine what the grunge genre would have produced without the drugs?

Iron Maiden - Fear of the Dark

Song Review

This review discusses the studio version in the context of live versions.

Lyrics - Listen to the Song

After their magnum opus "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" in 1988, Iron Maiden released a couple of mediocre albums in the 90s culminating in lead singer Bruce Dickinson's departure from the band. His return in 2000 saves the song "Fear of the Dark" from the dubious honour of being the last Iron Maiden song to feature his vocals.

It opens with a grand and memorable riff, followed by the first verse consisting of a clean guitar figure playing the melody over arpeggios. The more upbeat second verse introduces their signature distorted guitar sound, and a change in vocal technique. While the earlier quiet verse has Bruce singing in a raspily in lower pitch, the following verses and chorus feature his famous high-pitched "air-raid siren" wail. Although I prefer the music of the first verse, the vocal change is welcome, as his lower range singing doesn't really work [1].

An engaging guitar solo, the highlight of the song, leads to the dramatic final chorus and a reprise of the clean guitar arpeggios. Renowned bassist Steve Harris' parts are noteworthy, although not surprising given he wrote the song.

The lyrics predictably deal with nyctophobia, a fear of the dark, or more accurately "fear arising [from] what might be out there in the dark"[2]. While the topic seems at first rather childish, the lyrics are quite encompassing and convey the subject matter well. And, as discussed elsewhere, lyrics matter less than the music (and the vocal itself, which for the most part is great).

Interestingly, while I enjoy the song, I find it much better performed live, an opinion shared by others[3]. Although preference for live music can be ascribed to a greater connection between audience and performer, or the allowance for spontaneity, or even simply better sound (hearing instruments amplified at high volume with greater dynamic range, as opposed to hearing a simulation) I cannot use these as justification for my preference, as I have never actually been to an Iron Maiden show (only witnessing their performance through live albums and DVDs).

No, one of the reasons I enjoy the live versions because "improvement found one night can inform every performance thereafter", having "a cumulative effect". [4]
Apart from general improvements over the original recording, which may have less-than-perfect production, it also allows for changes and even audience participation. The unfortunate raspy vocals are better, because Bruce's vocal range and delivery has improved over the years, and are in general less raspy. The crowd even sings along during the main riff, an effect which greatly adds to the song.

"Fear of the Dark" is one of the few 90s songs that Iron Maiden continue to perform live. Whether it's because the song is a highlight on an otherwise forgettable album, or because the live setting is its true home is the interesting question. I enjoy it in both forms, but it seems no coincidence that this song was only released as a live single.

[2] William Lyons (1985) "Emotion", ISBN 0521316391

Courtney Loves Kurt Cobain

Courtney Love is the widow of Kurt Cobain. She is also a musician. She was the lead singer of rock band Hole, then went solo in her first album 'Mono' in 2004. Love's album features sounds similar to those of her late husband. They all have elements of grunge rock in them, dirty sounding guitar, mixed with the minor, raspy vocals similar to Cobain's. However her song Mono, is more rock than grunge, featuring a steady bass chord structure and drum pattern. 

She has also been known to sing some of Nirvana's songs such as Penny Royal Tea, putting her own spin of grunge on the music. While the song is the same, the female vocals, and even more droned out sounds make the song completely different to the original.  

If you love Nirvana, give Courtney Love a try, while she does have her own style, you can see some elements of Cobain in her songs, making them well worth the time...

This YouTube clip shows photos of Love, Cobain and Nirvana, while Love's version of Penny Royal Tea provides a soundtrack.

The 90's: "A decade without an identity"?

The 90's have been called by some, including but not limited to my father, as being "a decade without an identity". This expression is most often used in reference to the 90's music industry. There is a general understanding of what someone means when they say "I love seventies music" or "I love eighties music", however, there is absolutely no clarity in what someone means when they say "I love nineties music". This said, I don't think it is fair to describe the era as having no identity. I love nineties music, which is why I am so unhappy with that description being used. It suggests, or maybe is just used to suggest, that 90's music had no character - that it was droll, forgettable and didn't pioneer any new sounds or movements. On the contrary, I feel that if anything can be said for this era it would be that it had too much to offer. In past decades, "usually only a few types of music dominated the Top 40, but in the nineties you can find rock, rap, gangsta rap, alternative, punk, country, R&B, adult contemporary, ska, and classic rock." (1) There was a broader spectrum of music to accomodate an ever-fragmenting audience. Back in the 60's artists could get a mass audience and achieve mass hysteria (think 'Beatlesmania'), but in the 90's audiences showed signs of becoming less 'mass' and more 'niche'. Today we are experiencing the full effects of this. 00's music rarely has had a 'mass audience'; we're all savvy music consumers who know how to seek out the music we like. When was the last time an artist has 'mania' in the 00's? Never to my recollection. Rather than a decade without an identity, I'd call the 90's a decade with multiple-identities. And every decade from now will probably continue further with this trend - becoming more and more fragmented. The perceived "lack of identity" hence stems from the audience and not from the standard of music.

The 90's Most Iconic Music Moments

A countdown of nine iconic 90's music moments; that is iconic artists, songs, videos, interviews and performances.

Note: I use the word 'iconic' loosely and subjectively. So, no, there will be no Nirvana.

#9 Sinead O'Connor

'Nothing Compares to You'. With a music video every bit as intense and iconic as the track itself, this is one nineties song that will stand the test of time (as a killer breakup song if nothing else).

#8 Hit Me Baby One More Time

The birth of a monster, and of one of the most hyped-up and torn-down celebrities of my lifetime at least - Britney Spears. The success story (if you could dream to call it that) starts here, when she was first presented to the world as an innocent schoolgirl. What a difference a decade can make. (still brilliant though)

#7 The Cranberries

Though a far cry from most of the hardcore pop I listen too, I'm wildly enthusiastic about the Cranberries. They are in fact the only band I would describe as pop/rock that I would rank amongst my favourites. Icons of the 90's for their hits - 'Zombie', 'Salvation', 'Dreams' and so on. I could have easily done a top 9 list just comprised of Cranberries songs.

#6 Early-Mid 90's Club Songs

Ace of Base, I'm looking squarely at you. So many wonderful beats - 'Be My Lover,' '100% Pure Love,' 'I've Been Thinking About You' and 'I've Got the Power', to name but a few. Dance music had never been better. Sometimes I wonder how I can be so nostalgic for something I never really experienced. It absolutely kills me that I'll never walk into a club and hear 'Rhythm is a Dancer' playing. And if you don't know that song you have no right to be reading a 90's music blog.

#5 Cher introduces herself to Generation X

'Believe' was the first song of Cher's to land in the ARIA Top 10 since 'The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)' charted at #4 in 1990! So in many ways this was my introduction to Cher, and what an introduction! 'Believe' was a pop masterpiece and the biggest selling hit of her four decade career. Amazing. Thankyou Cher. Thankyou 90's.

#4 90's TV Themes



It might sound silly, but some of the most memorable tunes from the 90's are the tv theme songs we sung (or hummed) along to every week. Buffy, Charmed, Melrose Place, Friends, Ally McBeal, The X-Files and especially 90210.

#3 Courtney Love Crashes a Madonna Interview



God bless Courtney Love. I won't spoil too much, just that crashing an interview with the control-freak Queen of pop is must see youtube, and an iconic 90's music moment.

#2 Kylie Minogue does Barbarella



For most, Kylie's most iconic music video would that for 'Spinning Around'. The gold hotpants seal the deal. However, for me, it was her music video for 'Put Yourself In My Place' that is her most iconic 90's effort. A pink spacesuit? Genius. Floating around naked in a spaceship? Double genius. It may not sound like the most compatible video for a song called "Put Yourself In My Place", but it works.

#1 Spice Girls perform at the BRITS 1997



Yes. The Spice Girls 1997 BRITS performance. The most iconic moment of 90's British pop culture. Geri's Union Jack outfit gave birth to 'Cool Britannia' right there on the stage. On top of that, they are my childhood. So double iconic points for them.

Note: Songs that are hugely iconic but were too abhorrent for my list include 'Jackie', 'Two Times 'and 'No Way, No Way'. Songs that are hugely iconic but I realized were in fact not released in the 90's include 'Push It' and 'Murder on the Dancefloor'.