Musical Ramblings: Dead Again comes alive
Type O Negative - Dead Again
It's always an event in my life when Type O Negative (cough, the best band in the world) releases a new disc. From the time that I heard “Bloody Kisses” I knew this band was one of the coolest and most unique ever. From that point, I went out and bought their back catalogue and then purchased every single release. Every time I think that this band can't top their last effort (in this case, Life is Killing Me), they pull out all the stops, reinvent themselves just a wee bit and serve up music that should be made mandatory for all people to buy.
On Dead Again, the band goes back to their roots found on Slow Deep and Hard and Origin of the Feces, bringing that old school New York post punk feel to some of their songs. Mix that in with their patented low-tuned, slow groove feel plus the songwriting approaches found on “World Coming Down” and “October Rust” and adding the keyboard melodies found on “Bloody Kisses” and you have a small idea of what this CD will deliver.
Peter Steele's vocal approaches on this disc are his most diverse ever and he does melodic scales and vocal angst that you may not have thought the deep-voiced behemoth could ever deliver. The band backs Steele up with added melodies and harmonies that could make most people who have never heard of this band turn their heads.
I have to say that although the band's past releases all blend well together on this disc, as a Beatles fan (and knowing that one of the band's major influences are the Beatles), you can hear that influence in many parts of the disc. “September Sun,” which deals with Steele's mother's death is a prime example of this point. Combine that Beatles-pop influence with metal, goth and the amazing keyboard accents of Josh Silver (not to mention the keyboard solo in this song) and you have a song that can withstand multiple repeat plays in one day.
Some people may be turned off of this disc because the band's songs (for the most part) are easily around the seven to eight minute mark (with “These Three Things” hitting over fourteen minutes). If you can embrace the epic repeated structures and just get lost in the songs (like a good Opeth disc), you'll have a ball with this one. If you do listen to “Profits of Doom,” however, you may want to skip the song to the three and a half minute mark to where the song really gets good.
All in all, there's not really much bad to say about this disc. It has held up very well to repeated plays for almost two weeks now, sounds good at a bar and is fun to crank at parties. Sample this and then buy it. Bands this good deserve your $14 and your dedication. In a world where bullshit Emo crap and recycled, non-talent radio rock rules the mainstream, you owe it to yourself and the music business to give your money to something good. I can't give this one a ten out of ten because it's too good.
It's always an event in my life when Type O Negative (cough, the best band in the world) releases a new disc. From the time that I heard “Bloody Kisses” I knew this band was one of the coolest and most unique ever. From that point, I went out and bought their back catalogue and then purchased every single release. Every time I think that this band can't top their last effort (in this case, Life is Killing Me), they pull out all the stops, reinvent themselves just a wee bit and serve up music that should be made mandatory for all people to buy.
On Dead Again, the band goes back to their roots found on Slow Deep and Hard and Origin of the Feces, bringing that old school New York post punk feel to some of their songs. Mix that in with their patented low-tuned, slow groove feel plus the songwriting approaches found on “World Coming Down” and “October Rust” and adding the keyboard melodies found on “Bloody Kisses” and you have a small idea of what this CD will deliver.
Peter Steele's vocal approaches on this disc are his most diverse ever and he does melodic scales and vocal angst that you may not have thought the deep-voiced behemoth could ever deliver. The band backs Steele up with added melodies and harmonies that could make most people who have never heard of this band turn their heads.
I have to say that although the band's past releases all blend well together on this disc, as a Beatles fan (and knowing that one of the band's major influences are the Beatles), you can hear that influence in many parts of the disc. “September Sun,” which deals with Steele's mother's death is a prime example of this point. Combine that Beatles-pop influence with metal, goth and the amazing keyboard accents of Josh Silver (not to mention the keyboard solo in this song) and you have a song that can withstand multiple repeat plays in one day.
Some people may be turned off of this disc because the band's songs (for the most part) are easily around the seven to eight minute mark (with “These Three Things” hitting over fourteen minutes). If you can embrace the epic repeated structures and just get lost in the songs (like a good Opeth disc), you'll have a ball with this one. If you do listen to “Profits of Doom,” however, you may want to skip the song to the three and a half minute mark to where the song really gets good.
All in all, there's not really much bad to say about this disc. It has held up very well to repeated plays for almost two weeks now, sounds good at a bar and is fun to crank at parties. Sample this and then buy it. Bands this good deserve your $14 and your dedication. In a world where bullshit Emo crap and recycled, non-talent radio rock rules the mainstream, you owe it to yourself and the music business to give your money to something good. I can't give this one a ten out of ten because it's too good.
