The Rock Blogger

A classic video of Joy Division performing “Transmission” on British Television. Also look for John Cooper Clarke at the beginning of the clip reading “Evidently Chickentown”). I saw the movie Control recently (the incredible Ian Curtis bio-pic) I’ll review it sometime soon, but in the meantime see it yourself. Enjoy.

Wow. This outstanding video was made only with a webcam in the band’s RV while awaiting a gig. Creepy, vaguely threatening and Matrix-esque, this a masterpiece of mood and skillful editing. The music is terrific as well, with a dark bass driven melody reminiscent of Joy Division.

Seeing as the great music year that was 2007 is steadily drawing to a close, I thought it would be fitting to list all the new music that dominated my iPod this year. This will be an ongoing series, starting from 50 and counting down to number 1 in the standard, keep-your-ass in suspense fashion. There will be about 10 albums per post until all 50 are ranked, then this list will be compiled on its own page. So without further ado, here is what rocked in 2007.

Numbers 50-41

#50. Nadja. Radiance of Shadows. 3 stars

This experimental rock/electronica duo from Toronto unleashed another spectacle of ambient doom upon the masses this year, creating three beautifully drawn out movements full of menacing drones and dreamy reverb. With each song tracking at over 20 minutes each, this is one epic that takes time to sink in.

#49. Silverchair. Young Modern. 3 stars

The famed Australian trio made a long-awaited comeback this year with Young Modern, an eclectic mix of psychedelic pop. The album’s strongest feature is its variety, with the band drawing on multiple sounds and inspirations from across their decade plus career to churn out a listening experience that is immersive yet unpredictable.

#48. OM. Pilgrimage. 3 stars

This darkly meditative album fits nicely into the same spiritualistic niche as the introspective Six Organs of Admittance. Pilgrimage is a slow and brooding listen, but the journey is a rewarding one. The title track’s opening notes alone will give you pause (and the shivers).

#47. Hella. There’s no 666 in Outer Space. 3 stars

I’m including this one for its instrumental virtuosity alone. While some critics may take issue with the vocalist’s uncanny resemblance to The Mars Volta’s Cedric Bixler-Zavala, the sheer density and spastic energy of these tracks is noteworthy in itself.

#46. Sunn O))). Oracle. 3 stars

The masters of doom-metal demonstrate their terrifying prowess yet again with this rare release. Oracle features three incredibly long recordings featuring haunting bass drones and blistering noise, sucking the listener into a dark and impenetrable void. Needless to say, this isn’t for everyone.

#45. Caspian. The Four Trees 3 stars

An intriguing debut to the post-rock meltdown, this instrumental album shimmers with delicate intensity that builds and builds into thundering crescendos (okay, okay, so we all know the formula). Nonetheless, Caspian are welcome additions to an increasingly popular style of instrumental rock. They take all the bravado of this genre and condense it into more manageable durations.

#44. Anberlin. Cities 3 stars.

While I would never describe myself as a fan of emo-rock, I was surprisingly impressed by Anberlin’s catchy melodies and intelligent, evocative lyrics. Standouts include “Adelaide” and “The Unwinding Cable Car”. Cities is full of kinetic energy that bridges the gap between pop and punk.

#43. Bad Religion. New Maps of Hell. 3 stars.

The politically charged icons of Californian punk rock return just when we need them most. While there are no real surprises in store on this disc, the intense pacing and empowered vocals once again affirm Bad Religion place as punk’s dissident town crier.

#42. Neurosis. Given to the Rising. 3 stars

Influential sludge rockers return with their unique brand of stoner metal to effectively fry your stereo. The songs here are long and burning with angst and tension as the amps squall and the vocals rage. A standout for the genre.

#41. Nine Inch Nails Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D. 3 stars.

Easily the best remix album put out by Trent Reznor (and there have been many), these cuts are given their respective makeovers by a variety of standout guests, including Dntel, Ladytron and The Faint. While it is clear even after the first listen that many of these remixes are hit and miss, it never ceases to be an interesting listen. Certainly proves that NIN is among the most malleable artists around.

Stay tuned for the Numbers 40 to 31…

Hey there everyone. As this is the first post on The Rock Blogger, I would like to welcome you to my blog and ask you to take a look at the About and About the Author pages to get a better idea of what this site is trying to do. You can look forward to comprehensive and consistent information regarding the music world on an ongoing basis. So, for all your rock, alternative and indie news, stay tuned to The Rock Blogger.