Thank you to everyone who has viewed the videos within the 24 Hours of CKN, or have just viewed videos of mine in general. Thank you for being subscribers, fans, bros, sisters, friends, family...thank you to everyone. This insane idea seemed like just a pipe dream when it was first considered, and here we are, nearly 4 hours AFTER 24 hours. Its amazing. The past 24 (well, 28 now) hours have been like a blur. Sure, there were moments where time seemed to crawl and it was a question of whether or not it could be done, but in the end, it ended up being a race against the clock, to make sure I got that final review done for you guys before the 2:30PM buzzer sounded.
No, there wasn't an actual buzzer. Would've been a nice touch.
Special thanks goes out to my family, who didn't call me insane when I told them what I was doing. My girlfriend who put up with this, but only for about...oh...8 hours of it, since she went to a show then had to work. But still, cool beans on her for being down for this. Thanks to the friends who offered support, even if it was just by looking at me like I was an idiot. Every reaction, every piece of encouragement, it all mattered and kept me going. Endurance, baby.
Of course, one final time, thank you all, for making this happen. For being behind the idea, and really pushing that little voice inside of me to actually just do this. I may have sat here and made the videos, but you guys made this crazy idea a reality.
Sincerely,
CKN
Friday, June 21, 2013
Best of 2013 so far?
This was done very sleepily...so if its one that needs redone with a little more....oomph and listy-ness (word invention, sue me) let me know.
Rock City #5 - Stuff I Missed
2 hours left! I just almost spelled hours, "horsu"
fuck.
Preview of the Final 5 Videos of 24 HOURS OF CKN
We are down to the wire, CKN fans. 3 hours left. This has been an experience.
Since we are so close, I have the last 5 videos that will be uploaded mapped out already, so I feel just fine playing spoiler and telling you the batting order these vids will be in, so you can plan your viewing accordingly.
1. Rock City #5: JT, Daft Punk, QOTSA and Other Things I Missed
A few months ago, I had episode #5 of Rock City done and mapped out. It included the new Justin Timberlake album, and talked briefly about Miguel's last release, which i felt correlated nicely. I think it also talked about the new Depeche Mode and Dido releases, and had a fifth album included that I just can't remember. Well, I remember the JT and Miguel fondly, not so much the Depeche Mode, so those are in there. I also missed albums by Queens of the Stone Age, Daft Punk and Portugal, The Man, with the third of those being very, very recent. Yeah, its probably not every single album you wanted to hear about, but this one was a last second addition that I wanted to mention. It should also be noted that with the Daft Punk, I wanted to draw an analogy to Jamiroquai, but neglected to do so. It should be noted that Daft Punk's voyage to the late-70's and early 80's music scene of L.A. correlates with Jamiroquai well, considering Jamiroquai's own acid jazz and funk movements seem to fit like a glove with this same era of music, and this was done in the 90's, with little press in the states until the song "Virtual Insanity" just absolutely dominated in the middle of the decade.
2. 2013: Some of the Best and Worst Albums
Not a lot mentioned here, only 4 best and 2 worst albums of the year, with some others being thrown in near the ending. This is meant to really showcase some highlights of the year from the mind of madness. 21 hours in, sleep-deprivation is really starting to kick my ass in this video. If the response isn't up to snuff, this will be redone after a lot of sleep.
3. CKN Band Review: Porcupine Tree
I cite Porcupine Tree as one of my favorite bands of all time, but this is their first proper band review. Really, aside from the myriad of side-projects Steven Wilson is associated with, I haven't talked much about PT. If a discography review of the band ever takes place, this would be a video I'd put at the start of it, similar to how I did with the ongoing Dream Theater discography. Once again, a lack of sleep shows near the beginning, but as my brain starts to function, the speech and thought becomes fluent again. I could talk about Porcupine Tree all day and night, but I feel I'd talk in circles a lot, so I did my best to not do that.
4. Amon Amarth - Deceiver of the Gods
This was originally planned to be the send-off album for the 24 hours of reviewing, but that shifted due to the impending availability of our true send off. This album comes with lofty expectations, with Surtur Rising getting such a positive review in 2011 on the CKN channel, and really impressing a lot of people. Amon is a band that still has a vast following, so will they be pleased with this album, or is it a hiccup?
5. Orphaned Land - All is One
When the 24th hour comes to pass, it will be Orphaned Land's newest opus that will take us home. The group's first album since The Never Ending Way of ORwarriOR comes with a lot of expectations as well, but this group's short discography has never possessed an album that has failed to impress, so high hopes that trend continues are the consensus at this point. My hopes for these final two videos are to pour everything I have left in the tank into them, and be as aware as possible, to render fair judgements. With the promise of sleep so close, there's no reason not to give it my all.
There you go. As each passing video is uploaded, a new blog entry will be made to link you to it.
Thank you all for being a part of history. Its been a long and arduous journey, but its been a pleasure.
CKN
Since we are so close, I have the last 5 videos that will be uploaded mapped out already, so I feel just fine playing spoiler and telling you the batting order these vids will be in, so you can plan your viewing accordingly.
1. Rock City #5: JT, Daft Punk, QOTSA and Other Things I Missed
A few months ago, I had episode #5 of Rock City done and mapped out. It included the new Justin Timberlake album, and talked briefly about Miguel's last release, which i felt correlated nicely. I think it also talked about the new Depeche Mode and Dido releases, and had a fifth album included that I just can't remember. Well, I remember the JT and Miguel fondly, not so much the Depeche Mode, so those are in there. I also missed albums by Queens of the Stone Age, Daft Punk and Portugal, The Man, with the third of those being very, very recent. Yeah, its probably not every single album you wanted to hear about, but this one was a last second addition that I wanted to mention. It should also be noted that with the Daft Punk, I wanted to draw an analogy to Jamiroquai, but neglected to do so. It should be noted that Daft Punk's voyage to the late-70's and early 80's music scene of L.A. correlates with Jamiroquai well, considering Jamiroquai's own acid jazz and funk movements seem to fit like a glove with this same era of music, and this was done in the 90's, with little press in the states until the song "Virtual Insanity" just absolutely dominated in the middle of the decade.
2. 2013: Some of the Best and Worst Albums
Not a lot mentioned here, only 4 best and 2 worst albums of the year, with some others being thrown in near the ending. This is meant to really showcase some highlights of the year from the mind of madness. 21 hours in, sleep-deprivation is really starting to kick my ass in this video. If the response isn't up to snuff, this will be redone after a lot of sleep.
3. CKN Band Review: Porcupine Tree
I cite Porcupine Tree as one of my favorite bands of all time, but this is their first proper band review. Really, aside from the myriad of side-projects Steven Wilson is associated with, I haven't talked much about PT. If a discography review of the band ever takes place, this would be a video I'd put at the start of it, similar to how I did with the ongoing Dream Theater discography. Once again, a lack of sleep shows near the beginning, but as my brain starts to function, the speech and thought becomes fluent again. I could talk about Porcupine Tree all day and night, but I feel I'd talk in circles a lot, so I did my best to not do that.
4. Amon Amarth - Deceiver of the Gods
This was originally planned to be the send-off album for the 24 hours of reviewing, but that shifted due to the impending availability of our true send off. This album comes with lofty expectations, with Surtur Rising getting such a positive review in 2011 on the CKN channel, and really impressing a lot of people. Amon is a band that still has a vast following, so will they be pleased with this album, or is it a hiccup?
5. Orphaned Land - All is One
When the 24th hour comes to pass, it will be Orphaned Land's newest opus that will take us home. The group's first album since The Never Ending Way of ORwarriOR comes with a lot of expectations as well, but this group's short discography has never possessed an album that has failed to impress, so high hopes that trend continues are the consensus at this point. My hopes for these final two videos are to pour everything I have left in the tank into them, and be as aware as possible, to render fair judgements. With the promise of sleep so close, there's no reason not to give it my all.
There you go. As each passing video is uploaded, a new blog entry will be made to link you to it.
Thank you all for being a part of history. Its been a long and arduous journey, but its been a pleasure.
CKN
Still Alive
19 hours down....
5 to go....
Exhaustion is here. It was here hours ago. The lacking of new videos in the past 2 hours or so is proof to that, as I've been mentally resting to try to make it the rest of the way. The last video, the song by George Jones...that was a fun one to make, totally spontanious.
We're so close. Can't stop now.
There was a huge rush of videos overnight. we were moving at a clip of 1 per hour, which has been kind of the theme of this whole experience. However, all folks reach that point where they need to step back for a while. I tried to do that in between uploads, but it was best to just fully step back after the Jones song video finished up.
But to be clear, I'm alive, I didn't die. And I am finishing the job.
5 to go....
Exhaustion is here. It was here hours ago. The lacking of new videos in the past 2 hours or so is proof to that, as I've been mentally resting to try to make it the rest of the way. The last video, the song by George Jones...that was a fun one to make, totally spontanious.
We're so close. Can't stop now.
There was a huge rush of videos overnight. we were moving at a clip of 1 per hour, which has been kind of the theme of this whole experience. However, all folks reach that point where they need to step back for a while. I tried to do that in between uploads, but it was best to just fully step back after the Jones song video finished up.
But to be clear, I'm alive, I didn't die. And I am finishing the job.
Something That Needed to Be Said
We know what happened at the Golden God awards with Black Veil Brides, and we all know the swirling accusations surrounding one of the members of Blood on the Dance Floor being a pedophile. But what about the core issue here. The issue that the fans are still behind these groups, and have gotten out of control with it. Almost like living in a fantasy world for some, believing BVB or BOTDF have saved millions of lives like some sort of weirdo messiahs.
Well, something needed to be said. I know what'll come from it. It'll be fun. Just be ready.
Thane to the Throne
Thursday, June 20, 2013
The First Sports-Related Video in CKN History
24 Hours of Reviewing is breaking some barriers. This is true about this one right here. The first ever sports related video is all about the Heat winning the NBA Championship...and why it shouldn't be much of a surprise....
Should this be a keeper segment?
12 Hours down.
12 to go.
Should this be a keeper segment?
12 Hours down.
12 to go.
10 Hours In
We are close to the halfway mark. There's a lot to talk about, and I have time, considering I now have a video uploading, and 4 more that are ready to go(!!!) so let's have a pow-wow.
I was feeling tired before, but as the heat has settled into the cooler moments of night, I've regained my strength. I can now sense that the final hours of this trek will be murder, since I began this journey in the middle of the afternoon. Plus, its forecast to be warmer tomorrow than it was today. C'est La Vie. I vowed to go til the end. I will not back down.
Secondly, as time has passed, I've noticed that my delivery has become a lot more clear. In one of the reviews that will be posted in the coming hours, its a little jumbled, as I try to find words, but aside from that, its not taken that much of a hit yet. I think the secret so far has been taking some breaks and relaxing at times. Plus, getting ahead now has its benefits. I can push forward after taking a little break to regain my thoughts. Though I may try to plow one or two more videos out while my brain appears to be sharp. Key moments lost may never be found.
I finally was able to talk about a non-Dream Theater album that wasn't from 2007. Jag Panzer's Thane to the Throne has always been a favorite of mine. So reviewing it was pretty easy. Though, in that review, there's a lot more allegory about how the album's tone really seems to "fit" the story of MacBeth, even though they didn't have fancy electric guitars in the land of Shakespearean fantasy.
I also took some time to talk about the Miami Heat capturing the NBA Championship. I confess, I love sports, so the fact it took this long for a video of this variety to come out of me is kind of surprising. While I was hoping for the Spurs to pull off the upset, Miami's victory was less surprising, mainly because of their team's construction. It was built to win, and failure to capture the title could be seen as a failed season. Consider their first season together, when they lost in the finals to the Mavericks. Subsequent finals wins against the Thunder and Spurs though will have all the critics shooting them to the moon. But come on, they are the Yankees of basketball. Sure, the Yanks haven't won a World Series in a couple of years, but the team-building concept is still similar in nature. I've never liked that too much. Weirdly enough, I didn't mention how it seemed like the Pittsburgh Penguins attempted to do that this year in the NHL at the trade deadline, and how that didn't really work that well once in the series with the Boston Bruins, who are now deadlocked with the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals. In a way, Pittsburgh did what I hated, but for some reason I guess it didn't FEEL that way. Not because of fan loyalty, mind you, but the team was assembled at the trade deadline of a strike-shortened season. Not during the off-season. Its hard to say what would've happened had the team had a full year to gel together, but either way, they sorta did it. Damn. Missed an opportunity there to play devil's advocate on my home team, and myself. You know how much I love to play devil's advocate.
Also included is a message to fans of two bands, Black Veil Brides and Blood on the Dance Floor. Once again, I tried my best to be unbiased in this video, but I really doubt that's how it'll be taken. You can blame the intellect of these fans as part of the reason why that won't happen, but its also in the presentation. I tell the truth. That's about all there is to it. The truth is that both of these bands have douchey members that suffer from having an industry and fanbase silver spoon shoved in their dickhole. They acted out (in the case of Black Veil Brides) because the people in attendance at the Golden God awards didn't shine their asshole for them with liquid from Katy Perry's cunt. In the case of Blood on the Dance Floor, one of their members is a reported pedophile. The fanbase that tends to listen to their music usually ranges in age between 12-20. Most are under 18. Most could end up as victims, not lifelong fans. That's a huge problem for me. I'm not even a parent and I find that shit fucked seven ways to Tibet. Sure, Michael Jackson gets put on trial for having sleepovers, but this asshole gets to walk and not even have to worry about parents picketing the concerts or some retarded shit like that? Ok, I can see why, there. Michael Jackson was beloved by millions of fans, truthfully. Blood on the Dance Floor is beloved by millions of fans...in the MINDS of the fans. In reality its just a notch of probably a hundred thousand, and most will outgrow this bullshit once they get a job, a boy/girlfriend or turn to drugs. That music can NOT sound awesome while stoned, so lets hope that weed get's legalized in every state that has at least a thousand Blood on the Dance Floor fans.
So this is the longest blog i've probably written today. I probably should've done this throughout the session (recording a few videos before talking about them all in a multi-paragraph tirade like this one) but I guess lessons are learned as this day progresses. There wasn't a rulebook after all, and I don't plan to pen one. If anyone else is as dumb as I am in the future, well, best of luck to you. It's a grind.
10 hours down.
14 to go.
I was feeling tired before, but as the heat has settled into the cooler moments of night, I've regained my strength. I can now sense that the final hours of this trek will be murder, since I began this journey in the middle of the afternoon. Plus, its forecast to be warmer tomorrow than it was today. C'est La Vie. I vowed to go til the end. I will not back down.
Secondly, as time has passed, I've noticed that my delivery has become a lot more clear. In one of the reviews that will be posted in the coming hours, its a little jumbled, as I try to find words, but aside from that, its not taken that much of a hit yet. I think the secret so far has been taking some breaks and relaxing at times. Plus, getting ahead now has its benefits. I can push forward after taking a little break to regain my thoughts. Though I may try to plow one or two more videos out while my brain appears to be sharp. Key moments lost may never be found.
I finally was able to talk about a non-Dream Theater album that wasn't from 2007. Jag Panzer's Thane to the Throne has always been a favorite of mine. So reviewing it was pretty easy. Though, in that review, there's a lot more allegory about how the album's tone really seems to "fit" the story of MacBeth, even though they didn't have fancy electric guitars in the land of Shakespearean fantasy.
I also took some time to talk about the Miami Heat capturing the NBA Championship. I confess, I love sports, so the fact it took this long for a video of this variety to come out of me is kind of surprising. While I was hoping for the Spurs to pull off the upset, Miami's victory was less surprising, mainly because of their team's construction. It was built to win, and failure to capture the title could be seen as a failed season. Consider their first season together, when they lost in the finals to the Mavericks. Subsequent finals wins against the Thunder and Spurs though will have all the critics shooting them to the moon. But come on, they are the Yankees of basketball. Sure, the Yanks haven't won a World Series in a couple of years, but the team-building concept is still similar in nature. I've never liked that too much. Weirdly enough, I didn't mention how it seemed like the Pittsburgh Penguins attempted to do that this year in the NHL at the trade deadline, and how that didn't really work that well once in the series with the Boston Bruins, who are now deadlocked with the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals. In a way, Pittsburgh did what I hated, but for some reason I guess it didn't FEEL that way. Not because of fan loyalty, mind you, but the team was assembled at the trade deadline of a strike-shortened season. Not during the off-season. Its hard to say what would've happened had the team had a full year to gel together, but either way, they sorta did it. Damn. Missed an opportunity there to play devil's advocate on my home team, and myself. You know how much I love to play devil's advocate.
Also included is a message to fans of two bands, Black Veil Brides and Blood on the Dance Floor. Once again, I tried my best to be unbiased in this video, but I really doubt that's how it'll be taken. You can blame the intellect of these fans as part of the reason why that won't happen, but its also in the presentation. I tell the truth. That's about all there is to it. The truth is that both of these bands have douchey members that suffer from having an industry and fanbase silver spoon shoved in their dickhole. They acted out (in the case of Black Veil Brides) because the people in attendance at the Golden God awards didn't shine their asshole for them with liquid from Katy Perry's cunt. In the case of Blood on the Dance Floor, one of their members is a reported pedophile. The fanbase that tends to listen to their music usually ranges in age between 12-20. Most are under 18. Most could end up as victims, not lifelong fans. That's a huge problem for me. I'm not even a parent and I find that shit fucked seven ways to Tibet. Sure, Michael Jackson gets put on trial for having sleepovers, but this asshole gets to walk and not even have to worry about parents picketing the concerts or some retarded shit like that? Ok, I can see why, there. Michael Jackson was beloved by millions of fans, truthfully. Blood on the Dance Floor is beloved by millions of fans...in the MINDS of the fans. In reality its just a notch of probably a hundred thousand, and most will outgrow this bullshit once they get a job, a boy/girlfriend or turn to drugs. That music can NOT sound awesome while stoned, so lets hope that weed get's legalized in every state that has at least a thousand Blood on the Dance Floor fans.
So this is the longest blog i've probably written today. I probably should've done this throughout the session (recording a few videos before talking about them all in a multi-paragraph tirade like this one) but I guess lessons are learned as this day progresses. There wasn't a rulebook after all, and I don't plan to pen one. If anyone else is as dumb as I am in the future, well, best of luck to you. It's a grind.
10 hours down.
14 to go.
Scale the Summit - The Migration
The next review has been set, and its another new one.
Firstly, there will be a video posted called "5 Ways Today's Society Sucks" but after that we will talk about instrumental metal travelers Scale the Summit, and their new album The Migration.
Granted, without lyrics, a key aspect of CKN reviews is missing, which may mean the album review may be shorter than traditional CKN works. Either way, this album has a lot of potential, and some hype surrounding it, so we need to talk about it, and there's no better time than the present.
Awesomely enough, they are touring with Mouth of an Architect, and MoaA have a new album out as well. An album that I have.
Maybe they're next?
9 hours down.
15 to go.
Firstly, there will be a video posted called "5 Ways Today's Society Sucks" but after that we will talk about instrumental metal travelers Scale the Summit, and their new album The Migration.
Granted, without lyrics, a key aspect of CKN reviews is missing, which may mean the album review may be shorter than traditional CKN works. Either way, this album has a lot of potential, and some hype surrounding it, so we need to talk about it, and there's no better time than the present.
Awesomely enough, they are touring with Mouth of an Architect, and MoaA have a new album out as well. An album that I have.
Maybe they're next?
9 hours down.
15 to go.
George Jones
No, not the country singer. My special guest for the Atilla - About this Life video.
George is a longtime friend, so to speak. Its not new at all. I hope you like it, and if you want more, tell me.
The review with George in it will be right here very soon.
George is a longtime friend, so to speak. Its not new at all. I hope you like it, and if you want more, tell me.
The review with George in it will be right here very soon.
Quarter Update
6 hours 31 minutes down.
17 hours 29 minutes to go.
Damn. I knew this was going to be exhausting, but it creeps up on you very quickly. The heat and lack of A.C. certainly hasn't helped, considering I've been sweating at a constant rate. There's no wind outside today, so no real circulation of air flowing through the area. Hopefully as the temperatures begin to cool down for the night, so does the sweating and wear. Heat-wise, the worst hours should actually be behind us.
Recapping the past 6 hours, and including the upload currently in progress, lets see what all we've done:
4 Album Reviews: (Between the Buried and Me, Dream Theater, Queensryche, Farmakon)
1 Thought Buffet episode (Abortion)
1 Outtake or silly video (James Hetfield karaoke pt 1)
basically about a video an hour. not bad. After all, the drive was for both quality and quantity, not focused solely on the quantity. And, hey, listening to an album does take time. I think in the next 6 hours though I will be shooting a few more videos about life, or some top 10 lists. I also will be getting to another new release very soon, one that may actually spawn an angry review. If that happens to be the case, I may have to wait on that one until tomorrow morning. We will see.
For now, i'm taking a 10 minute break (I told ya I'd log them) to run to the store. Be back in a flash.
17 hours 29 minutes to go.
Damn. I knew this was going to be exhausting, but it creeps up on you very quickly. The heat and lack of A.C. certainly hasn't helped, considering I've been sweating at a constant rate. There's no wind outside today, so no real circulation of air flowing through the area. Hopefully as the temperatures begin to cool down for the night, so does the sweating and wear. Heat-wise, the worst hours should actually be behind us.
Recapping the past 6 hours, and including the upload currently in progress, lets see what all we've done:
4 Album Reviews: (Between the Buried and Me, Dream Theater, Queensryche, Farmakon)
1 Thought Buffet episode (Abortion)
1 Outtake or silly video (James Hetfield karaoke pt 1)
basically about a video an hour. not bad. After all, the drive was for both quality and quantity, not focused solely on the quantity. And, hey, listening to an album does take time. I think in the next 6 hours though I will be shooting a few more videos about life, or some top 10 lists. I also will be getting to another new release very soon, one that may actually spawn an angry review. If that happens to be the case, I may have to wait on that one until tomorrow morning. We will see.
For now, i'm taking a 10 minute break (I told ya I'd log them) to run to the store. Be back in a flash.
Farmakon - Robin
2007 was really a good year for metal. Its a shame I wasn't reviewing back then on youtube, else there would've been some really good ones...
But we have to start further back then 2007 to get to our next review. There used to be a chain store called Media Play in the states, and Monroeville, PA happened to have one. While there one summer afternoon in the early 2000's, i perchanced upon the debut album from the band Farmakon. Not knowing much about them, I opted to give it a shot. It was one of those shot in the dark purchases that could've gone both ways, but this one couldn't have gone better. I found a great band with a unique take on prog-death metal with Opeth as one of their principle influences. Their favorite album of all-time as a band? Still Life. Yeah, this couldn't fail.
And it didn't, but nothing was heard from them for a long time, until 2007, when Robin emerged. Press had died down on this band since it'd taken quite a few years between releases, so this one went almost completely unnoticed. I heard about it only because of an ad in a magazine, Metal Maniacs if i remember correctly, which is now no longer in existence. A shame, too, as that magazine was killer. Beat the pants off Revolver, and even the current version of Metal Hammer. Metal mags suck for the most part these days Let's bring back 'zines.
Robin was a curious find that I had to actually download, because finding it in store, or in print in online stores was a challenge, so that's what had to be done. Even today, finding the album can be very challenging if you don't look in the right place. Anyway, this album built on the ideas of their first, and added more dynamics. For one, the rugged clean vocals of songs like "Pearl of My Suffering" were a bit more polished, but still had a charm to them that was undeniable. Their growling and screaming still possessed a certain uniqueness, and their riffs showcased their Opeth-worship easily to even a metal layman.
If you scan around youtube, you can find a few songs by this band, but for the large part, there's nothing, a curious black hole in the musical universe that seems to speak of their limited existence. That's going to change, considering Robin is the next review selection here on 24 Hours of Reviewing.
I implore you to seek this album out, especially if you deliver high-praise to Opeth. Now its not going to hit you in quite the same way as Opeth does, considering there's more of a focus on the mid to quick tempo Opethian work, but think about it. The lack of press meant that their budget had to be paper thin, and no doubt funded out of their own pockets while working other jobs and such just to try to keep a dream alive, but didn't. Its been 6 years and no follow-up exists to my knowledge, and no plans either. This is a band that deserves some interest, and at least a curious listen. It certainly deserves a review. Yeah, had a CKN review occurred in 2007, the fate would've still been the same, but at least I could've said I tried to bring more awareness to the band while they were still in existence.
Amazon.com reviews can only go so far, y'know.
But we have to start further back then 2007 to get to our next review. There used to be a chain store called Media Play in the states, and Monroeville, PA happened to have one. While there one summer afternoon in the early 2000's, i perchanced upon the debut album from the band Farmakon. Not knowing much about them, I opted to give it a shot. It was one of those shot in the dark purchases that could've gone both ways, but this one couldn't have gone better. I found a great band with a unique take on prog-death metal with Opeth as one of their principle influences. Their favorite album of all-time as a band? Still Life. Yeah, this couldn't fail.
And it didn't, but nothing was heard from them for a long time, until 2007, when Robin emerged. Press had died down on this band since it'd taken quite a few years between releases, so this one went almost completely unnoticed. I heard about it only because of an ad in a magazine, Metal Maniacs if i remember correctly, which is now no longer in existence. A shame, too, as that magazine was killer. Beat the pants off Revolver, and even the current version of Metal Hammer. Metal mags suck for the most part these days Let's bring back 'zines.
Robin was a curious find that I had to actually download, because finding it in store, or in print in online stores was a challenge, so that's what had to be done. Even today, finding the album can be very challenging if you don't look in the right place. Anyway, this album built on the ideas of their first, and added more dynamics. For one, the rugged clean vocals of songs like "Pearl of My Suffering" were a bit more polished, but still had a charm to them that was undeniable. Their growling and screaming still possessed a certain uniqueness, and their riffs showcased their Opeth-worship easily to even a metal layman.
If you scan around youtube, you can find a few songs by this band, but for the large part, there's nothing, a curious black hole in the musical universe that seems to speak of their limited existence. That's going to change, considering Robin is the next review selection here on 24 Hours of Reviewing.
I implore you to seek this album out, especially if you deliver high-praise to Opeth. Now its not going to hit you in quite the same way as Opeth does, considering there's more of a focus on the mid to quick tempo Opethian work, but think about it. The lack of press meant that their budget had to be paper thin, and no doubt funded out of their own pockets while working other jobs and such just to try to keep a dream alive, but didn't. Its been 6 years and no follow-up exists to my knowledge, and no plans either. This is a band that deserves some interest, and at least a curious listen. It certainly deserves a review. Yeah, had a CKN review occurred in 2007, the fate would've still been the same, but at least I could've said I tried to bring more awareness to the band while they were still in existence.
Amazon.com reviews can only go so far, y'know.
Queensryche - self titled (with Todd La Torre)
4 hours 19 minutes in. Time to talk about something new.
Now, we all know about the trainwreck that was Frequency Unknown. Geoff Tate rushed with some folks to put out an album with the initials of F.U., a purely juvenile concept that he probably came up with while crying or something.
"F YOU GUYS!!!! Wait....that's it!"
Yeah, it probably went a little something like that. If it didn't, it did now.
So Frequency Unknown was rushed to death, suffered from bad mixing that needed to be "remixed", like that was going to save that tired piece of boredom rock blandness, and was released a few months ago, like Geoff was going to get brownie points in court because his version of Queensryche released something first. Yeah, Geoff, every human on Earth is also 8 years old.
Conversely, the remainder of the artist-formerly-known-collectively-as-Queensryche-and-still-is-called-Queensryche recruited Todd La Torre and carefully penned their first album since the split. This effort is completely organic in nature, with no outside influences at the pen, making it the first pure Queensryche album in years. It also brings with it a new form of fear. Sure, we know the other members of 'Ryche are capable musicians, but the fear comes from wretched misuse over the years. Sometimes those recycled riffs stored on hard drives over the years have the tendency of showing their age and almost seem outdated before lyrical pen hits paper. Once again, though, this version of the band showed a little dignity, and instead opted to go into the studio with nothing, and emerge with the first collective Queensryche album in seemingly an even longer time.
Queensryche releasing an album without outside influence or some bald, Rob Halford wannabe taking control like a playground bully? DAFUCKISDISSHIT?
Its awesome, that's what it is. Finally, the fans of this band have something to be really excited about. Except those who thought that Dedicated to Chaos was brilliant. But those folks are just wrong, anyway. If I listened to that release during 24 hours of reviewing, the event would be cancelled due to boredom and the desire to slip into a 10 hour coma. Yeah, we ain't calling this son-of-a-bitch at 14 hours, or 4.
The album itself will be best described during the review, of course, but as a teaser, I can tell you a few things.
1. Todd La Torre - think Geoff Tate, only not a douche, with his voice from the 80's and early 90's, and a shitload of fucking energy.
2. Remember Empire? If you forgot about that album, you'll be begging to hear "Jet City Woman" out of La Torre's pipes.
3. There's no ego here. No need to record versions of past 'Ryche classics to posture the idea that the album is "good." One problem with that: compared to Tate's murdering of classics he himself was a part of, I WANT TO HEAR LA TORRE SING THEM REALLY FUCKING BADLY.
4. Its short, it doesn't overstay its welcome or attempt to oversell itself. Its a dandy.
We're gonna talk more about this VERY soon, because 35:10 tends to go fast, especially when blogging during the listening process.
Tchort would look at that album length and laugh, saying, "Light of Day, Day of Darkness was one fucking song and almost two times as long.
But in the end he'd love this album more than Frequency Unknown. He'd say F.U. to Tate by using that piece of shit as a coaster.
Now, we all know about the trainwreck that was Frequency Unknown. Geoff Tate rushed with some folks to put out an album with the initials of F.U., a purely juvenile concept that he probably came up with while crying or something.
"F YOU GUYS!!!! Wait....that's it!"
Yeah, it probably went a little something like that. If it didn't, it did now.
So Frequency Unknown was rushed to death, suffered from bad mixing that needed to be "remixed", like that was going to save that tired piece of boredom rock blandness, and was released a few months ago, like Geoff was going to get brownie points in court because his version of Queensryche released something first. Yeah, Geoff, every human on Earth is also 8 years old.
Conversely, the remainder of the artist-formerly-known-collectively-as-Queensryche-and-still-is-called-Queensryche recruited Todd La Torre and carefully penned their first album since the split. This effort is completely organic in nature, with no outside influences at the pen, making it the first pure Queensryche album in years. It also brings with it a new form of fear. Sure, we know the other members of 'Ryche are capable musicians, but the fear comes from wretched misuse over the years. Sometimes those recycled riffs stored on hard drives over the years have the tendency of showing their age and almost seem outdated before lyrical pen hits paper. Once again, though, this version of the band showed a little dignity, and instead opted to go into the studio with nothing, and emerge with the first collective Queensryche album in seemingly an even longer time.
Queensryche releasing an album without outside influence or some bald, Rob Halford wannabe taking control like a playground bully? DAFUCKISDISSHIT?
Its awesome, that's what it is. Finally, the fans of this band have something to be really excited about. Except those who thought that Dedicated to Chaos was brilliant. But those folks are just wrong, anyway. If I listened to that release during 24 hours of reviewing, the event would be cancelled due to boredom and the desire to slip into a 10 hour coma. Yeah, we ain't calling this son-of-a-bitch at 14 hours, or 4.
The album itself will be best described during the review, of course, but as a teaser, I can tell you a few things.
1. Todd La Torre - think Geoff Tate, only not a douche, with his voice from the 80's and early 90's, and a shitload of fucking energy.
2. Remember Empire? If you forgot about that album, you'll be begging to hear "Jet City Woman" out of La Torre's pipes.
3. There's no ego here. No need to record versions of past 'Ryche classics to posture the idea that the album is "good." One problem with that: compared to Tate's murdering of classics he himself was a part of, I WANT TO HEAR LA TORRE SING THEM REALLY FUCKING BADLY.
4. Its short, it doesn't overstay its welcome or attempt to oversell itself. Its a dandy.
We're gonna talk more about this VERY soon, because 35:10 tends to go fast, especially when blogging during the listening process.
Tchort would look at that album length and laugh, saying, "Light of Day, Day of Darkness was one fucking song and almost two times as long.
But in the end he'd love this album more than Frequency Unknown. He'd say F.U. to Tate by using that piece of shit as a coaster.
Thought Buffet
There will be no politics in this video, I assure you. Plus, this isn't partisanship, its what was documented.
Anyhow, I'm going to get this video uploading for you, but while it uploads, its time to tackle...
QUEENSRYCHE (w/o Douche Tate) - SELF TITLED
The Next Two Videos
2 hours and 22 minutes logged...
Two videos are up next. One is an album review, and the second is just for the funsies of it.
We return to the Dream Theater discography next with the review of AWAKE, the band's third album, and first after their breakthrough smash IMAGES AND WORDS catapulted their name into progressive music lore.
The second video...well...remember that outtake where I did some James Hetfield karaoke? I have more. Oh yes. That video will go below this:
Onward and ever upward. I think next we will tackle something new....
Now Playing
1 hour, 54 minutes down.
Waiting to post the link on here for the Colors review...
Had to take a phone call during that recording. Saved myself 10% on my electric bill. any news is good news.
NP: Dream Theater - Erotomania
Waiting to post the link on here for the Colors review...
Had to take a phone call during that recording. Saved myself 10% on my electric bill. any news is good news.
NP: Dream Theater - Erotomania
Between the Buried and Me - COLORS
So, before I post this video, let's talk about this album a bit.
I remember being in my best friend's basement (he's guested on some old blog.tv's, Robb) playing pool and listening to albums, as we usually did. At this point in time, he was working at the California University of PA's radio station as a DJ, and as a result, got a lot of albums that were submitted as promos. Usually the station manager got to take his fill, and Robb was left with the remains, which was a lot, some weeks. Within those one week was the entire back catalogue of Between the Buried and Me. The name rang a bell with me, but I'd never listened to them, so we popped in Alaska by the band.
Goddamn.
It was beautiful. Chaotic, but somehow dictated and controlled very well. The execution was well presented, and weird songs like "Selkies, The Endless Obsession" really resonated well. Both of our jaws were on the floor.
Past forward a year or so, and Colors drops. Now, our lives had changed. I was out of college, he was out of school and the radio biz, and we were both working at the local Spencer Gifts store in the same mall I inhabit today. Knowing this album was out, I walked down and picked it up, to give us something to listen to.
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
Somehow BtBaM had taken their controlled chaos and taken it up to 11, 12, 24, and 639. It was a work of art, one that was instantly treasured, and one that was going to be very, very, VERY hard to top. This piece of work was absolutely breathtaking.
I can recall specifically driving home from dropping off an now ex-girlfriend of mine, listening to "White Walls" on a rainy night in early November, hearing that crushing moment, the lyrics that gave the song its title just growled with such precise delivery, with such vigor. Wow. Then the musical outro, those final minutes that delivered the same way the entire album had delivered, only with one final rush of escalation. I instantly felt the same way I had upon hearing the ending of "Blood and Concrete" by Forgotten Tomb. The pattern was similar, with the final lyrics being delivered with crushing intensity, only to be followed-up by a musical outro that raised hairs on my arms and postmarked knowledge that both of these songs would be remembered and praised for years to come. Both Colors and FT's "Negative Megalomania" really satisfied that carnal desire for memorable affairs, and Colors really stood by itself, boasting a colorful (ha!) variety that could only be termed as resplendent.
WHIIIIIIIITEEEEEEEEE WALLLLLLLLLLLSSSSSSSSSS!
About to record this review.
44 minutes down
23 hours 16 minutes to go.
I remember being in my best friend's basement (he's guested on some old blog.tv's, Robb) playing pool and listening to albums, as we usually did. At this point in time, he was working at the California University of PA's radio station as a DJ, and as a result, got a lot of albums that were submitted as promos. Usually the station manager got to take his fill, and Robb was left with the remains, which was a lot, some weeks. Within those one week was the entire back catalogue of Between the Buried and Me. The name rang a bell with me, but I'd never listened to them, so we popped in Alaska by the band.
Goddamn.
It was beautiful. Chaotic, but somehow dictated and controlled very well. The execution was well presented, and weird songs like "Selkies, The Endless Obsession" really resonated well. Both of our jaws were on the floor.
Past forward a year or so, and Colors drops. Now, our lives had changed. I was out of college, he was out of school and the radio biz, and we were both working at the local Spencer Gifts store in the same mall I inhabit today. Knowing this album was out, I walked down and picked it up, to give us something to listen to.
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
Somehow BtBaM had taken their controlled chaos and taken it up to 11, 12, 24, and 639. It was a work of art, one that was instantly treasured, and one that was going to be very, very, VERY hard to top. This piece of work was absolutely breathtaking.
I can recall specifically driving home from dropping off an now ex-girlfriend of mine, listening to "White Walls" on a rainy night in early November, hearing that crushing moment, the lyrics that gave the song its title just growled with such precise delivery, with such vigor. Wow. Then the musical outro, those final minutes that delivered the same way the entire album had delivered, only with one final rush of escalation. I instantly felt the same way I had upon hearing the ending of "Blood and Concrete" by Forgotten Tomb. The pattern was similar, with the final lyrics being delivered with crushing intensity, only to be followed-up by a musical outro that raised hairs on my arms and postmarked knowledge that both of these songs would be remembered and praised for years to come. Both Colors and FT's "Negative Megalomania" really satisfied that carnal desire for memorable affairs, and Colors really stood by itself, boasting a colorful (ha!) variety that could only be termed as resplendent.
WHIIIIIIIITEEEEEEEEE WALLLLLLLLLLLSSSSSSSSSS!
About to record this review.
44 minutes down
23 hours 16 minutes to go.
THE FIRST REVIEW
23:59:59
The Music Gods have spoken. We have the first review in our sights.
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME - COLORS
I may have done a review of this album a long time ago, in a galaxy far away, in the land of Coverkiller, instead of CKN. I forget if it was one of the Coverkiller series that popped up here, so its getting a review proper first up!
Considering this album is the most recently released album to appear on my TOP 25 ALBUMS OF ALL TIME, it should be talked about.
NP: Between the Buried and Me - The Decade of Statues
(If a song were made about this decade, it'd be called "The Decade of Statuses")
4 Minutes done.
23 Hours, 56 minutes to go.
(No review of Colors exists on the CKN channel as of yet. That's going to change. For now, enjoy the review of their most recent album, PARALLAX II)
The Music Gods have spoken. We have the first review in our sights.
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME - COLORS
I may have done a review of this album a long time ago, in a galaxy far away, in the land of Coverkiller, instead of CKN. I forget if it was one of the Coverkiller series that popped up here, so its getting a review proper first up!
Considering this album is the most recently released album to appear on my TOP 25 ALBUMS OF ALL TIME, it should be talked about.
NP: Between the Buried and Me - The Decade of Statues
(If a song were made about this decade, it'd be called "The Decade of Statuses")
4 Minutes done.
23 Hours, 56 minutes to go.
HERE WE GO!
24:00:00 Remains
ITS TIME TO PLAY THE GAME. Well, start it at least. There's an introduction video that is uploading right now, with 16 minutes left. So let's call it guys, the 24 hours of reviewing will begin in officially 15 minutes at 2:30PM Eastern Time, or whatever comparable time that is for you.
HERE WE GO! THE CLOCK WILL BE STARTING IN 15 MINUTES!
ITS TIME TO PLAY THE GAME. Well, start it at least. There's an introduction video that is uploading right now, with 16 minutes left. So let's call it guys, the 24 hours of reviewing will begin in officially 15 minutes at 2:30PM Eastern Time, or whatever comparable time that is for you.
HERE WE GO! THE CLOCK WILL BE STARTING IN 15 MINUTES!
Beer
Someone has pledged to drink a beer everytime a video is posted today.
I gotta get my shit together. Someone's buzz is on the line. I cannot disappoint.
\m/
I gotta get my shit together. Someone's buzz is on the line. I cannot disappoint.
\m/
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
LAUNCH
Well folks, HERE WE GO.
In just a few short hours, this blog, and the coverkillernation youtube account will be abuzz with constant activity. For 24 long hours, there will be videos about music, about life, about just about anything that CKN opts to press record and talk about, which means that ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
Man, that seems like a lot to take in, right? A lot to watch and chat about...
Well this blog is going to help you a lot.
Throughout the entirety of the experience, it will be chronicled. Yep, timestamps, now playings, updates, crazy shit, stories, again, whatever comes to mind. This will be a unique experience, one that will take every fiber of my elemental being being poured out into one crazy day of posting, video content creation and more...
Some of you may be wondering why I would even attempt something like this, and really pour everything into it. What's the point? Why take on something with the possibility of being both emotionally and physically challenging?
Well, there's that whole "because I can" reason that I could use, and really be a dick.
Nah, let me justify it. I was sitting outside the Uniontown Mall a few months ago, on break from my job as the third keyholder at FYE. As I puffed on a menthol cigarette and stared into the parking lot, springtime jaded by summer temperatures, I thought about what I could do that was somewhat unique and crazy for the upcoming 10,000 subscriber plateau about to be hit on the channel. Of course, we were in the midst of a 9000 subscriber Question and Answer video series that wasn't anywhere close to completion (and still has a pair of episodes ready for upload, maybe tomorrow?) so it needed to be something...fresh. So what do I do in such situations? I let ideas flow from my brain, and ask facebook.
Yeah, it doesn't sound brilliant when you type it out. Sounds more like some teenage brat asking his or her friends what shirt they should fucking wear. "HAI GUIZ, SHUD I WEAR DA BLACK 1, DA WHITE 1, OR DA BRWN 1????!?!?!" None of them, you twit. Put on a shirt, go to English class, shut the fuck up. Right?
Well, I like getting the facebook fans involved, so it only seemed right. Once the three options were posed, I looked at them and thought to myself, there's no real bad answer here...except maybe that 24 hour thing....that might be a hard task to behold.
Of course that one won.
The whole idea was more of a test of my reviewing abilities, my stamina, my patience, really everything that defines the essence of the Coverkillernation channel. Think Misery, only with something that you love, and Kathy Bates isn't threatening to kill you if you don't do it.
Yeah, I'm watching Misery as I type this. Fitting, right?
The concept was so twisted, so fucking insane, that of course I felt it was my duty to include it. I mean, I already go nuts on camera for no good reason, invent words, phrases, and act like a general moron for the amusement of others, and it brings me joy that you all enjoy it, instead of summoning a psych team. So its, at least in my mind, the ultimate thank you.
A few things to mention....
Firstly, while requests are nice for my personal listening habits, I don't know how many, if any, I'll handle during the 24 hours of reviewing. My real intent was to have a few albums planned, then let the randomness of my vast collection dictate the pace from there, blending old, new, classic and stinker into one giant ball of fun. Variety, emotion and purity would be the truest in this format.
Secondly, 24 hours is a long time to be in one location, doing the same thing. While I will precede the event by stocking up on anything I should need, I may need to step away to get anything that is needed. I've cleared my schedule to the point where this shouldn't happen, but we know how life is. These moments will be documented, so you'll know if they happen.
Thirdly, and finally, sleep is for the weak. This idea didn't claim that it'd be 24 hours split between two days. It's 24 hours. Period. No sleep.
Don't be shocked if after this, there isn't a new video for a few days. If something absolutely huge comes up, that could change, but my plan is simple. after an experience like this, a weekend of rest is in order. Its also why there wasn't any video in the two days preceding the event. Mental preparation.
As always, its my hope that you enjoy this. As always, there's no satisfying everybody, and that's something that I accept. All of you are an important part of this, and I thank you in advance for everything that comes from this experience.
Thanks as always,
CKN
CKN Youtube channel page
CKN Facebook Page
In just a few short hours, this blog, and the coverkillernation youtube account will be abuzz with constant activity. For 24 long hours, there will be videos about music, about life, about just about anything that CKN opts to press record and talk about, which means that ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
Man, that seems like a lot to take in, right? A lot to watch and chat about...
Well this blog is going to help you a lot.
Throughout the entirety of the experience, it will be chronicled. Yep, timestamps, now playings, updates, crazy shit, stories, again, whatever comes to mind. This will be a unique experience, one that will take every fiber of my elemental being being poured out into one crazy day of posting, video content creation and more...
Some of you may be wondering why I would even attempt something like this, and really pour everything into it. What's the point? Why take on something with the possibility of being both emotionally and physically challenging?
Well, there's that whole "because I can" reason that I could use, and really be a dick.
Nah, let me justify it. I was sitting outside the Uniontown Mall a few months ago, on break from my job as the third keyholder at FYE. As I puffed on a menthol cigarette and stared into the parking lot, springtime jaded by summer temperatures, I thought about what I could do that was somewhat unique and crazy for the upcoming 10,000 subscriber plateau about to be hit on the channel. Of course, we were in the midst of a 9000 subscriber Question and Answer video series that wasn't anywhere close to completion (and still has a pair of episodes ready for upload, maybe tomorrow?) so it needed to be something...fresh. So what do I do in such situations? I let ideas flow from my brain, and ask facebook.
Yeah, it doesn't sound brilliant when you type it out. Sounds more like some teenage brat asking his or her friends what shirt they should fucking wear. "HAI GUIZ, SHUD I WEAR DA BLACK 1, DA WHITE 1, OR DA BRWN 1????!?!?!" None of them, you twit. Put on a shirt, go to English class, shut the fuck up. Right?
Well, I like getting the facebook fans involved, so it only seemed right. Once the three options were posed, I looked at them and thought to myself, there's no real bad answer here...except maybe that 24 hour thing....that might be a hard task to behold.
Of course that one won.
The whole idea was more of a test of my reviewing abilities, my stamina, my patience, really everything that defines the essence of the Coverkillernation channel. Think Misery, only with something that you love, and Kathy Bates isn't threatening to kill you if you don't do it.
Yeah, I'm watching Misery as I type this. Fitting, right?
The concept was so twisted, so fucking insane, that of course I felt it was my duty to include it. I mean, I already go nuts on camera for no good reason, invent words, phrases, and act like a general moron for the amusement of others, and it brings me joy that you all enjoy it, instead of summoning a psych team. So its, at least in my mind, the ultimate thank you.
A few things to mention....
Firstly, while requests are nice for my personal listening habits, I don't know how many, if any, I'll handle during the 24 hours of reviewing. My real intent was to have a few albums planned, then let the randomness of my vast collection dictate the pace from there, blending old, new, classic and stinker into one giant ball of fun. Variety, emotion and purity would be the truest in this format.
Secondly, 24 hours is a long time to be in one location, doing the same thing. While I will precede the event by stocking up on anything I should need, I may need to step away to get anything that is needed. I've cleared my schedule to the point where this shouldn't happen, but we know how life is. These moments will be documented, so you'll know if they happen.
Thirdly, and finally, sleep is for the weak. This idea didn't claim that it'd be 24 hours split between two days. It's 24 hours. Period. No sleep.
Don't be shocked if after this, there isn't a new video for a few days. If something absolutely huge comes up, that could change, but my plan is simple. after an experience like this, a weekend of rest is in order. Its also why there wasn't any video in the two days preceding the event. Mental preparation.
As always, its my hope that you enjoy this. As always, there's no satisfying everybody, and that's something that I accept. All of you are an important part of this, and I thank you in advance for everything that comes from this experience.
Thanks as always,
CKN
CKN Youtube channel page
CKN Facebook Page
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