Friday, February 25, 2011
Update your bookmarks
If you've even bookmarked us. We've moved to tumblr with a custom domain, metaletcetera.com. I'm keeping this site live for archival purposes.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Blunt Force Trauma - 1ST track off new Cavalera Conspiracy streaming now.
BLABBERMOUTH.NET - CAVALERA CONSPIRACY: Title Track Of New Album Available For Streaming
Max Cavalera's latest work with Soulfly tends to feature a first track that is exciting at first, but able to be skipped upon future listens. It usually features a somewhat familiar riff, followed by another that confirms -- yes, Max hasn't lost anything yet. After that there is a breakdown that leads to the inevitable epic outro, and you've officially entered the world of Max yet again.
This track is just that, down to the letter. Like it or dislike the tactic, it's been an effective one. The only thing I can say after hearing this and the other track that streamed about a week or so ago is that neither of them actually offer a guarantee that the record will be a unique experience. We've heard the electro stuff on top of metal before, we've heard these riffs and melodies before, and yeah, it adds to that tribal thing Max seems to be bent on. So we shall see. My prediction? This will be a 3 star record that doesn't feel as fresh as the first one did. Only for the true fans who can't get enough.
Max Cavalera's latest work with Soulfly tends to feature a first track that is exciting at first, but able to be skipped upon future listens. It usually features a somewhat familiar riff, followed by another that confirms -- yes, Max hasn't lost anything yet. After that there is a breakdown that leads to the inevitable epic outro, and you've officially entered the world of Max yet again.
This track is just that, down to the letter. Like it or dislike the tactic, it's been an effective one. The only thing I can say after hearing this and the other track that streamed about a week or so ago is that neither of them actually offer a guarantee that the record will be a unique experience. We've heard the electro stuff on top of metal before, we've heard these riffs and melodies before, and yeah, it adds to that tribal thing Max seems to be bent on. So we shall see. My prediction? This will be a 3 star record that doesn't feel as fresh as the first one did. Only for the true fans who can't get enough.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Thailand fans lose CMND/CTRL over Deftones show cancellation
Deftones fans go beserk after concert is cancelled - The Straight Times
These kinds of things always pop into my mind when thinking about group dynamics. The riot is such a powerful and interesting form of social expression. Compared with the protests in Egypt, this is not much of a footnote in history, if anything, it seems to have temporarily primed the world on riotous behavior (Iran, Iraq, Tunisia, etc.). Nowadays, there's digital riots, such as the attacks on Esperanza Spalding's wikipedia page by angry Justin Bieber fans that were upset he didn't win new artist. Now, part of me identifies with these kids, as many can recall Jethro Tull beating out Metallica for best metal performance back in '89. But all the same, it's pretty clear that these die hard Bieber fans will be pretty embarrassed with themselves. Bieber doesn't suggest to me as having any staying power beyond these fans' travel through puberty.
Nice to know that we can still count on a bunch of angry young people to start shit over an inevitable and unfortunate circumstance their efforts can do nothing to fix. And, nice to know Deftones still has a rabid fan base, though I don't think this would happen over in the states.
These kinds of things always pop into my mind when thinking about group dynamics. The riot is such a powerful and interesting form of social expression. Compared with the protests in Egypt, this is not much of a footnote in history, if anything, it seems to have temporarily primed the world on riotous behavior (Iran, Iraq, Tunisia, etc.). Nowadays, there's digital riots, such as the attacks on Esperanza Spalding's wikipedia page by angry Justin Bieber fans that were upset he didn't win new artist. Now, part of me identifies with these kids, as many can recall Jethro Tull beating out Metallica for best metal performance back in '89. But all the same, it's pretty clear that these die hard Bieber fans will be pretty embarrassed with themselves. Bieber doesn't suggest to me as having any staying power beyond these fans' travel through puberty.
Well, Is It Possible to Make Dangerous Reporting Safe?
I pulled this off of a Media Bistro feed. This is something that's been on my mind for the better part of the last two years. We of course want to raise the bar on reporting as we recover from the cheer leading several media companies committed themselves to back in 2001-2003. It's clear we were swindled by the government, and it's clear that media outlets reporting around the world, and those not reporting around the world, beefed up their journalistic enterprise considerably since then. When someone like Ann Coulter suggests that more journalists need to be jailed, we need to consider how far reporting should go, and additionally, relaxing our expectations of how that reporting should be framed. So when Lara Logan gets beaten and sexually assaulted, should we feel like we need to pull back? Or accept that cost and move on?
Monday, February 14, 2011
The King of Limbs is Coming!
Radiohead Releasing New Album on Saturday | Rolling Stone Music
What I do have to tell you is that, I have a slight worry that Radiohead might finally make a misstep and put out a record that just ain't that great. Part of me just can't believe a band has been this good for this long, but, you know what? Let the power of positive thinking prevail.
I don't have to tell you that I'm really excited about a new Radiohead record.
What I do have to tell you is that, I have a slight worry that Radiohead might finally make a misstep and put out a record that just ain't that great. Part of me just can't believe a band has been this good for this long, but, you know what? Let the power of positive thinking prevail.
Friday, February 11, 2011
A metal head's dream denied by a still satisfying reality
On the train to work today I sat next to a young woman who was fairly attractive and small. She put her headphones in and scrolled through her smartphone to select a tune. Immediately some form of true Swedish metal core was blasting out of her headphones. I did my best to listen in and see if I could decipher a few tunes, tried to catch the album graphic whenever she checked her phone and figure out what band compelled this person.
Yes, of course, metal is bigger than ever now, and all of us guys have noticed the increase in the female count at shows of bands that tend to be on the more aggressive side. So, to a certain extent, it's becoming more and more presumptuous to say that a woman, this very woman, can't be a metal head. But for many years, she was only a dream for many of my male friends.
Now, I have a wonderful and loving significant other, so I had nothing more than curiosity at heart, but all the same, there was no need to come off as a creep. I quit toying with the idea of tapping her on the shoulder and opted for the position of the modest metal dude. I felt righteous in reserving myself in order to let this mystery be.
Glad to have done it, too. As it turns out, when I got up to get off at my station, I realized that the music originated from a metal dude two doors down who was blasting his headphones so loud that I thought it was right by me. A smile crossed my face as he and I both walked out.
I mentioned this anecdote to a fellow metal colleague, and he too recounted having been fooled by his desire of that rare metal chick. In a similar circumstance, he realized it was his own headphones in his bag, still blasting, not hers.
Fare thee well in thy search, brethren.
Yes, of course, metal is bigger than ever now, and all of us guys have noticed the increase in the female count at shows of bands that tend to be on the more aggressive side. So, to a certain extent, it's becoming more and more presumptuous to say that a woman, this very woman, can't be a metal head. But for many years, she was only a dream for many of my male friends.
Now, I have a wonderful and loving significant other, so I had nothing more than curiosity at heart, but all the same, there was no need to come off as a creep. I quit toying with the idea of tapping her on the shoulder and opted for the position of the modest metal dude. I felt righteous in reserving myself in order to let this mystery be.
Glad to have done it, too. As it turns out, when I got up to get off at my station, I realized that the music originated from a metal dude two doors down who was blasting his headphones so loud that I thought it was right by me. A smile crossed my face as he and I both walked out.
I mentioned this anecdote to a fellow metal colleague, and he too recounted having been fooled by his desire of that rare metal chick. In a similar circumstance, he realized it was his own headphones in his bag, still blasting, not hers.
Fare thee well in thy search, brethren.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Cavalera Conspiracy is killing me inside.
Yes, that title is unlawfully tongue in cheek, but...well, I won't defend myself.
So you can download the new single by the band here, and I must say a few things.
Don't expect what you've heard before. It might be that this track is a weird one off to test reactions. There's a little bit of electronic sampling, but you're reassured as soon as the riff hits that it's more than likely going to be on. It's reminiscent of late Max era, on the line between chaos and roots. Is this a sign of things to come for Soulfly, too? I have to say that I like it.
Only neg is that you've got to sign up for an email list to get it, but it's the roadrunner list, and if you're not on it, I'm surprised. Not to say it's a good list since I didn't get an email about this, but just cause they do so much of this marketing stuff. Hey, look, at least metal is big again.
So you can download the new single by the band here, and I must say a few things.
Don't expect what you've heard before. It might be that this track is a weird one off to test reactions. There's a little bit of electronic sampling, but you're reassured as soon as the riff hits that it's more than likely going to be on. It's reminiscent of late Max era, on the line between chaos and roots. Is this a sign of things to come for Soulfly, too? I have to say that I like it.
Only neg is that you've got to sign up for an email list to get it, but it's the roadrunner list, and if you're not on it, I'm surprised. Not to say it's a good list since I didn't get an email about this, but just cause they do so much of this marketing stuff. Hey, look, at least metal is big again.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
The question of creativity and potential modes for collaborative learning
No Right Brain Left Behind: A Speed Innovation Challenge for Creative Education | Design for Good | Big Think
I've recently read the primer for The Future of Learning Institutions in a Digital Age, which was a fantastic set of preliminary guiding principles that, in short, encourage institutions to look to collaborative projects and tasks as opposed to the traditional 'instructor as authoritarian' and modality of competition. One of the recurring statements is the fact that we, as an internet culture, are already learning together, working together and interacting with each other in this way, and that major educational institutions (the old money ones) are designed directly in opposition to this. So, the question becomes - are students really not doing as well as they could because the internet is such a distraction? Or is it because they aren't being properly catered to?
So above is a link to a few words on another book I will likely read, and this is a thought that has come to me often - what really is creativity? We sort of get sold on the whole high school identity slots that the creative people are the artists, which I propose isn't true. Creative environments, other than that of art exist, and projects need to reflect and/or demand that. Let's have the students approach a specific problem and be charged with doing the research to find a solution. Let's encourage creativity as defined as being able to imagine and adapt and form solutions. Is the quarterback on the football field choosing to run an audible any less creative than the emo kid smoking pot under the bleachers, drawing cartoons of monsters?
Equal value, I say.
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