Aggro Femme

I might start messing around with this again. There are some new links, eventually I’ll put up some new graphics, maybe a post or two. If you can’t wait, check out my Myspace.

Yeah, so I basically have this website just so no one else gets aggrofemme.com. Aside from that, and its use as an archive, it’s basically worthless.

It was suggested I read this book because 1. I have virtually no self-confidence, 2. my life is largely ruled by fear, 3. and the past several months have launched blow after blow at me. I’ll go into that later. Maybe. Let me just put it this way: I am SICK and TIRED of spirituality/self-help crossover books. They’re chock-farking-full of anecdotes, and I HATE anecdotes. That’s all these books seem to be! If you can’t find anything worth saying and have to pad your book with story after never-ending story that all say the same damn thing, write a pamphlet! I’d buy the pamphlet! If you’ve got ten $25 books out already, you could handle writing something that merely says what needs saying, and nothing else. This book warrants no rating.

Fini for now.

I was very recently (3 days ago) introduced to this band via the song by the album’s title, No Depression. The song was originally recorded in 1936 by the Original Carter Family, and instantly reminded me of Big Rock Candy Mountain, typically attributed to Harry McClintock, both songs being from generally the same musical “era,” as it were, during the Depression.

As an aside, I’m no history buff. Remembering what happened when is not one of my strong suits, so if I’m mistaken, leave me a comment and I’ll do my best to swallow my pride and correct myself. =P

BUT! Back to the matter at hand.

Uncle Tupelo sound like the Hank Williamses and They Might Be Giants had children. The musicianship is fantastic (the base lines are particularly technically superior). They broke up in the mid-nineties and formed Son Volt and Wilco, the latter being a band I should be more familiar with, yet sadly am not. This oversight will be rectified soon enough, but after having given them another listen, I may remember that I didn’t like them. *shrug* I’ll let you know. Check out the Wikipedia entry on Uncle Tupelo.

My favorite songs from this album (so far… another premature review) include “Factory Belt,” “No Depression” (naturally), “Whiskey Bottle” and “Life Worth Livin’.”

Let’s go with a 4.25 out of 5. Again, so far.

1 - SUCK!
2 - I guess I should at least finish it…
3 - I kinda liked this one.
4 - Love it!
5 - One of my favorites of all time.

Unless you live under a rock, or for some strange reason are not a Cranberries fan, “Are You Listening?” is the debut solo album of the Voice of the Cranberries, Dolores O’Riordan, and it couldn’t be better. Whereas the Cranberries are slightly more pop-rockish and marginally political, O’Riordan on her own is mournful and introspective, yet wise. This review is largely premature and sorely lacking, as I haven’t listened to the entire album yet (*slaps her own wrist*), but among my favorite songs so far are “Human Spirit,” “Accept Things,” “Apple of My Eye,” “Angel Fire” and “Ordinary Day,” the last being the best. Give it a listen. Or five hundred.

4.75 out of 5

1 - SUCK!
2 - I guess I should at least finish it…
3 - I kinda liked this one.
4 - Love it!
5 - One of my favorites of all time.

So I’m sitting in the car last night listening to 102.1 The Edge, and the dj starts to introduce the next band. “These guys just got signed to Serj Tankian’s (System of a Down) label Serjical Strike. Here’s their first single ‘Dance of the Manatee.’ This is Fair to Midland.”

WHAT?!

Almost four years ago I saw these guys live because a guy I know (Doug) was in a band (Nipps Brown) who was opening up for them (we’ve all been there). So I stay, I watch, I like. A lot. I go to two more of their shows. They didn’t even have merch at their shows at this point. I had to buy their cd online. I still have it, by the way. And they’re on TOUR in JAPAN with DIR EN GREY.

I just wanted you to know that I was there before you got big. It’s an interesting feeling. Kinda cuh-razy man.

Serjical Strike Records
Fair to Midland at SerjicalStrike.com
Fair to Midland.com

Here’s the tip for the day. For the year, actually. For the ever.

Most of the time, it is NOT quicker to go through the drive-thru. COME.INSIDE.kthx.

***Edit - February 14, 2007***

I no longer care what you do. I don’t work there anymore. =D

I’m just reserving this slot and letting you know I’ll be writing something about the concert soon. Ish.

***Edit - Wednesday, January 17th, 2007***

Okay, three months later is neither soon nor ish. But it was a great concert. I wish I had been a little less inhibited, but it was difficult, what with all the 13 year olds trying to smoke cigarettes in front of me. I’m not sure any of them knew exactly what should be liked about Rise Against, either. There was a band called Thursday, if any of you out in radio land know them. I sorta liked them, but not really, because the lead singer was a flaming show-off with a huge hole in the crotch of his jeans. Evergreen Terrace was there, and I know them thanks to Josh Simon, basically the reason I got into hardcore. Circa Survive was there, wot sounded like the Mars Volta if the Mars Volta sucked. Tim McIlrath (lead singer, Rise Against) covered Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s anti-war song “Ohio” on acoustic, and it was good.

This isn’t the best review, but I’m in a bad mood. What do you want.

Good day. I SAID GOOD DAY!

This is the first album in a LONG TIME that I can listen to straight through, and the cover art looks like something Stephen Gammell would do. Google him and look at his stuff. He illustrated a book called Scary Stories, which I own, and it is good.

Anyway, I think my favorite song is Roadside.

**Edit**

So Amazon.com classifies Rise Against as “alienation rock,” whatever that means. I think I’d go with hardcore punk, but I’m sure all you musical genre nazis out there have a seven word compound for whatever you think they sound like. (I don’t go in for that multi-prefixed genre labeling.) And I liked “The Sufferer and the Witness” so much that I went out and bought “Siren Song of the Counter Culture” after John F. told me about “Swing Life Away” (which I remember hearing on the radio now that I’ve heard it again. It’s okay, but I prefer the ballad [Roadside] on Sufferer rather than “Swing Life Away”). “Siren Song” is rougher, and Tim McIlrath’s (lead singer) voice is more gravelly. I’ve listened to the Sufferer several times through already, so maybe I’ll post another edit once I’ve done the same with Siren Song.

“The Sufferer and the Witness”
1 - SUCK!
2 - I guess I should at least finish it…
3 - I kinda liked this one.
4 - Love it!
5 - One of my favorites of all time.

5 out of 5. w00t!

“Siren Song of the Counter Culture”
1 - SUCK!
2 - I guess I should at least finish it…
3 - I kinda liked this one.
4 - Love it!
5 - One of my favorites of all time.

Forthcoming.

This stuff is awesome. Dark, surrealist, gothic, definitely for me.

Erlend Mork

Digital Apocalypse/Chad Michael Ward

Amelies Welt