No Ordinary Love
Sade + Deftones
Ketamine
https://aeon.co/ideas/ketamine-trips-are-uncannily-like-near-death-experiences
The article provides background into the research being done on Ketamine. Ketamine (Special K for any party people) has been shown to provide people with a near death experience, mainly by the impact that it has on the brain and chemicals that are released. These chemicals are similar to what the brain experiences near death.
It's also being used by small clinics to treat patients who are suffering from severe PTSD and depression. It’s curious to know that now Ketamine is also used in the treatment of depression and PTSD, with positive results. Coupled with the increase legalization of cannabis maybe we are getting closer to accepting illegal drugs into our society as an alternative to the legal drugs that we consume from the pharmacy.
Censored Colors
An atmospheric prog rock album with spacey sounds, smooth melodies, and plenty of social commentary. Standout songs are “Colors”, “New Orleans”, and “Our Way”.
Afternoon Hike
2.85 miles….too much sauce
New TOOL tracks
The band has played a snippet of Descending since 2015. What has been played is a 4 minute tease of different sections of the song. With lyrics like “Sound our dire revelry….All from our apathy”, and “Stay the reading of our swan song and epilogue” the song seems to be about something crumbling (or….descending) beliefs, society, or the self. But there also lies a call for hope, “One drive, to stay alive….Muster every fiber. Mobilize, stay alive”.
The music builds like a well composed movement with a slow build for the first third of the song. About halfway into the song the first movement reaches an apex with a guitar driven piece. The song then treads back to an atmospheric vibe before being hit with a drum driven climax in the second movement that reaches an apex with a nasty gong hit before riding out the remainder of the movement. I’m ready to worship whatever god they are summoning in this song.
“Invincible” takes its time with a very slow, drawn out build. But the prominence of the bass in the first third of the song is welcome. About 3 minutes in the drum and bass sync up and then drift apart a minute later. The drums move on to sync up with the vocals. This plays out until the 9 minute mark, where they band breaks into a filthy 3/4 groove. The song closes out with groove similar to the ending of “Rosetta Stoned”.
This track almost follows the theme of survival that “Descending” approaches. This time the picture being painted is one of a tired human. “Beating chest and drum, beating tired bones again"…”Feel the sting, feeling time bearing down”.
Whatever. It’s just cool to have some new music for the first time in 13 years from one’s favorite musical act.
Let me Sanctify You
Is that river deep?
And Here We Are...
https://aeon.co/essays/cheerfulness-cannot-be-compulsory-whatever-the-t-shirts-say
Cultivate that which makes you cheerful.
Choices
Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Please consider a donation or visit to https://afsp.org/our-work/advocacy/become-an-advocate/#/signup/go
St. Paul and The Broken Bones Concert
The St. Paul and the Broken Bones concert is coming up. Because of this I’ve given their discography a thorough spin recently. “Half The City” now plays like a greatest hits album for the bands sounds and singer Paul Janeway’s voice. By the time we get to “Broken Bones and Pocket Change” we’ve been fully engrossed by the band’s skill and the singers talent. Blues. The 3 tracks that follow give the middle of the album solid footing before entering the last portion. “Grass is Greener” offers a sad, yet powerful song that shows off Janeway’s unique pipes. There are so many great moments on the 2nd half of the album.
Fast Foward to Sea of Noise and you can feel the band evolving. Track 2 gives a new direction to the band, with Janeway offering a Remy Shand impression. But the horns are still there. I find myself drawn to “I’ll Be Your Woman”. The sound is killer, but the lyrics speak to Janeway’s recognition of his feminine side, something that may have been challenging for him given the themes presented in in their next album “Young Sick Camelia”. But the lyrics…. “Strongest winds come from your mouth…”… “ash I am to ash I’ll always be, let me lay in your strong arms” provide poignant imagery of a strong, reverent woman in Janeway’s life. “Is It Me” offers up themes that play heavily on the next album. Lyrics like “is it hell, is it home, or is it me” present Janeway’s view of life at home, and life in his mind. These themes are more thoroughly expressed in the next album.
“Young Sick Camelia” was produced by Jack Splash and you can feel the influence. The band brings more of a pop sound and the songs play to repetitive hooks. But this albums plays as a personal album for Janeway. Themes about life at home and growing up in the South are featured prominently here. The band provides a nice counter. The jams are mostly upbeat which helps counter the dark themes expressed in a few songs. The albums first single “Apollo” is about an astronaut drawing his last breath and telling the stars to remember his lover. Sappy. But the band sounds incredible. Give me more horns. “NASA” plays the same space theme, but this time with a lover that’s out of reach. “DNA always leaves a trail…and there ain’t no reason I shouldn’t have known I can’t let you go” Lyrics meh, but the sound the band creates on this one is very psychedelic. There appears to be a theme of pairs in song titles, starting with “NASA” and “Apollo”. Other pairs include titles like “Convex” and “Concave” “GotItBad” and “LivewithoutYou”, and “Cumulus” and “Hurricane” Odd choice.
But the overarching theme is Janeway’s tool of using this album to confess some deep seated thoughts about life in the south. Religion, guns, work, nothing is off topic. His grandfather and father even have cameos on this album. It’s all about home. And religion. “Panthers on the prowl with the hollow teeth, screaming hallelujah from the factories” offer thick thoughts on blue collar work and religion. Other religious themes include “There’s a preacher conning Jesus in us all”. “Gun shaped bible and a loaded tongue. Jesus ain’t the problem but he started one”, and “God is a gambler who can’t set us free”.
And yet despite all that, the band does an incredible job holding the album together. The jams are upbeat and experimental sounds offer an interesting contrast to Janeway’s lyrics.
The Tour
TOOL has confirmed they will be releasing a new album this year, with the project slated for a summer release. With that come’s a new tour. The band has already announced several tour dates both stateside and internationally, with dates scheduled for May and June. Look for the band to announce more dates in the fall following the release of their first new album in over 15 years. That means I’ll be traveling somewhere stateside soon. Red Rocks!!!
AI Ethics
Let’s fix the ethical treatment of humans first.
https://aeon.co/ideas/ais-should-have-the-same-ethical-protections-as-animals