Blog Post #3 - Sept 29, 2008

Okay this is probably one of the last one of these things I’m going to do for a while. So here it goes...

I am officially no longer an ITunes virgin. That’s right I’ve finally taken the plunge or gone over to the dark side which all depends how you feel about said establishment. So what piece of musical mayhem finally drove me over the edge? Well everyone who listens to our show knows I’m a big fan of the Canadian heavy metal magazine Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles, which I devour on a monthly basis. A couple of issues back they featured an article on a Death Metal Dutch Band with the catchy name Hail Of Bullets. The band is fronted by the former vocalist for Bolt thrower I’m sorry you really can’t call the guys who do these kind of things to their vocal chords singers. Anyway the group had just released their debut album “Of Frost And War” which was a brutal look both musically and historically at the Siege of Stalingrad where the German and Russian armies clashed during World War II. So the entire concept sounded pretty cool. So off I went in search of the album stopping off at my usual signposts along the way. Hmv, three different stores. Sunrise Records. Best Buy (Okay I was desperate) even a couple of used stores on Queen but all that turned up absolutely nothing. So I turned to the Internet. I typed the name of the group and album title into Goggle and presto the screen filled up with dozen entries and not one of them took me anywhere where I could purchase the album. I could look at the track list I could read about how the recording came about, where the different band members came from. There were even several reviews of how the album was received by different critics. But do you think I could find one retailer who was willing to deliver said album to my door. Not a chance. So I turned to the only other option I had left. I went to the Dark side. I passed through the realm. I entered ITunes.

First I was totally shocked they had it. Second I was even more  taken back, it was under the genre that it should be. My friend Chris has told me for a while that Tunes has approved it sound quality and had moved beyond tinny sounding Mp3s but I was dubious of the whole process, Anyway I filled out the pages of personal info the several duplicated requests for passwords and signed away my life by giving them the security number off my wife’s credit card. The contents of the album were downloaded to my computer in handy Real Player Mp4 files, which refused to play on my Windows Media player, (I was informed later by my webmaster Jeff that they weren’t really Real player files, just that particular player beat out the other units on my computer for the right to play them. I always knew Real player was a bully) After some fidgeting I managed to burn the audio files from Hail Of Bullets onto a CD. And you know it didn’t sound that bad. It could have used a bit more Bass on some of the heavier sections but it still sounded a lot better than I expected. But that’s not the point. This isn’t how I want to buy my music. I want to see the CD package in front of me. I want to smell the plastic as I tear it off. Yes I know I’m insane. 

I know the future is marching on without me but if you ask most artists they want the same thing. Only being able to buy compressed files of artist’s music is similar to most directors’ films going directly to DVD without having a theatrical release. It just doesn’t have the same bang. And that’s how I feel about my first ITunes experience. By the way I still haven’t been able to open my artwork.

Nightwish rolled through our fair city a couple of weeks ago and here as promised is my live review.

Sound Academy Sept 2 Toronto

There was a lot of anticipation for myself and my buddy and Webmaster Jeff as we entered the hallowed halls of the venue formerly known as the Docks. Both of us had been grooving to the current Nightwish platter Dark Passion Play for over a year and we were ready for a great night of music. 

Progressive power wizards Sonata Arctica opened the evenings festivities and although they sound fine on record. Live they failed to deliver the goods.  All their songs seemed to have a sameness to them that wasn’t helped along by a plodding drum sound, Although a few numbers threatened to catch fire most of the evening played out like a mish mash of instruments resulting in a Phil spectorish wall of sound that offered little dynamics. I mean the group tried their best the lead singer particularly working the crowd for every bit of energy he could pull out of them but none of the live retentions of songs were very distinctive or memorable. In the end they left the stage without receiving an encore. Maybe in a headline setting they might have fared better where the group would be able to mix and match some their harder compositions with some of their slower and more orchestrated numbers but this night on the Sound Academy stage they weren’t able to pull it off.

Night wish however hit the stage with all guns blazing. Blasting into the opener “ Bye Bye Beautiful’ a musical kiss off to former singer Tarja. I ‘m always wondered how Annette Olzon feels about singing that song the lyrics so filled with bile and sweet revenge. But if she ever did at one point feel any hesitation she didn’t let it slip to the audience as she and male co- singer and bass player Marco traded Vocal stylings back and forth. Both her and the rest of the band churned out waves of infectious energy that enveloped the room as Annette bounced around on stage like a giddy schoolgirl having the time of her life and wanting everyone there to know it. Gone was the coldness and distance of some of their previous shows. This was the new Nightwish and the crowd was eating it up.

Unlike the opening act, which at times who’s playing felt a bit forced, and overreaching ,the members of Nightwish were masters of their instruments, each one contributing to the overall sound that poured out the speakers and cascaded down to the crowd. Although Annette and the band fared best with material that came from the recent Dark Passion Play they didn’t turn their backs on their previous musical legacy. Some classic Nightwish were given a new coat of paint. A stripped down “Dead To The World” allowed for a greater intimacy with the Sound Academy crowd and the performance of the title track from the Wishmaster album with it’s call and response dynamics was a force to be reckoned with. The Enthusiasm that the band showed for their music and being a part the live experience, was best displayed by head songwriter and keyboard player Thomas who sang the words to every song even though he didn’t have a microphone. The toured De force of the evening was “1000 Miles the entire band firing on all sixs and Annette delivering a great vocal performance while the other members creatred a lush musical backdrop behind her, Even when a stagehand had to switch her microphone she never lost her cool, clapping along to the music as the guy attended to the business at hand.

And before you knew it. It was over. Some disappointments. No Eva or Meadows of Heaven. On some of the earlier songs at times it sounded like someone was putting words in Annette’s mouth. It just wasn’t a comfortable fit but the pluses of watching a band really enjoy what they are doing and pushing themselves to deliver the best performance they can. This more than made up for any shortcomings displayed throughout the evening.  I felt like I witnessing the second life of a band that still has many more musical miles to travel and many more stories to tell. Nightwish long may they reign.

What I’ve filling my ears with:

Nightwish: Dark Passion Play-It just gets better everytime I put it on. The fact that it’s only sold 75’000 is a crime. Buy it soon before they release another one and you have to shell out for two.

Metalica: Death Magnetic- Not quite a Master Of Puppets II but not too shabby either. More hard rock than metal. Rick Rubin is a god and should be worshipped on a regular basis.

Alejando Escovedo: Gravity-Because two Alejando albums are never enough and this one comes with an extra live disc as well.

Meshuggah: Obzen-These guys are so proficient on their instruments it’s scary. Lock them up before they hurt somebody. Not for everyone but for those who have no fear you will be rewarded greatly. Redefining what rock music is and what it could be.

Hail Of Bullets: Of Frost and War-a death metal journey through the frozen wastelands of World War II and the battle of Stalingard. Grim, powerful and frightening good.

Samantha Martin: Back Home- Alt Folk Song stress who wears her heart on her sleeve and grit in the sole of her shoe. A dash of Blues, A pinch of country and a whole lotta soul.

Okay that’s it. It’s been a slice. See you back on the airwaves in a couple of days. Until then

Keep listening

J Hoskins