#Genre: Stoner/Heavy Metal Grunge

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

Soundgarden

[lovejustforaday]

Shoegaze Classics - Ferment

Ferment - Catherine Wheel (1992)

Main Genres - Alternative Rock, Shoegaze

A decent sampling of: Noise Pop, Dream Pop

Oops, I got lazy and procrastinated the last regular "classics" review. Well, better late than never.

For my final entry on this retrospective, before I move on to my select few magnum opuses of first wave shoegaze, I wanted to cover another band that I feel I could recommend to most casual listeners of alternative rock. So today I'll be taking a closer look at the moonlit melodies of early shoegaze's gruffest band, Catherine Wheel.

The Band

Catherine Wheel formed in Great Yarmouth, U.K. in 1990.

They were probably the biggest band of the first wave not signed to Creation Records or 4AD, though Creation Records' Alan McGee certainly tried. Instead, they got signed to American label Fontana Records.

The band's lineup for the vast majority of its duration was Rob Dickinson on vocals and guitar, Dave Hawes on bass, Brian Futter on guitar, and Neil Sims on drums.

When referring to this band as "early shoegaze's gruffest band", I was especially referring to Rob Dickinson's vocals; less of the typical semi-androgynous, zoned out 20 something year old stoner dude, and more like your cool heavy metal uncle singing lullabies to you.

Rob's gentle but husky voice was often placed rather high in the mix when compared to most other shoegaze acts of the time, giving his lyrics more of a central focus. His general musings involve cerebral, abstract mystical-isms, while sometimes being the brooding, angsty kind of poet that was very much dominating the grunge music and alternative rock airwaves in the United States in the early 90s.

In fact, again I have to say that I would've expected these guys to be a lot more successful in the United States given what was happening overseas at the time. Much like Swervedriver, Catherine Wheel were a bit more hard-rocking than their other peers in the scene that celebrated itself, though not really in the same way as the former.

If Swervedriver's thing was shoegaze mixed with noise rock distortion and post-hardcore levels of intensity, then Catherine Wheel's sound was more of a kind of shoegaze rock and roll, more indebted to the hard rock of the previous few decades than other bands. A lot of their melodies have kind of a timeless feel to them.

Their sound is also distinctly nocturnal, even more so than most other shoegaze bands. Ferment and Chrome are LPs meant to be listened to on night walks and bus rides, especially the latter.

EPs happened. Then came the debut record.

The Record

Ferment is Catherine Wheel's journey into the foggiest recesses of the half-waking, half-asleep mind, with loud, opaque walls of sound and glistening electric guitars.

The production of this record has a very washed-out quality, like the entire record was given the acid wash treatment. If that's your kind of thing, you'll love this record. It certainly lends itself well to the "heavy rocking slumber" quality of Catherine Wheel's general musical aesthetic. That being said, one or two tracks here may sound a bit flat by modern production standards.

The record opens with "Texture", a menacing 6/8 splattering of radioactive glowing guitar chords creating a radiant, moonlit shoegazing mosaic. A very bold opener with possibly the most aptly titled song for a shoegazing band ever.

"I Want To Touch You" is, also true to its name, a nervously erotic track that is both enticing and surreal. There's about a hundred ways that a track with this title could go wrong and turn into failed-seriousness or something off-putting, but somehow this ends up working really well with its breezy melody and flashy guitar leads over tingling shoegaze drones. It's a certified banger.

If ever there was a song worthy of the moniker "shoegaze" in its most literal interpretation, then that song would be "Black Metallic". The drowsy-eyed, cerebral introspection of this behemoth of a song is communicated through sonic timbres of pleasantly tender abrasion, perfectly capturing what it would sound like to be quite literally lost in a labyrinth of your own thoughts while staring absently into the apparent abyss of one's own shoes. "Black Metallic" is a masterclass in evoking a state of mind for the listener through well-crafted, gorgeous guitar soundscapes. This is probably among the first two or three tracks that I'd recommend to any of the uninitiated.

Sadly, my one major gripe with this record is that it starts with the excellent three track run that I just mentioned, and then never comes close to picking up that momentum again. And at 38 minutes onward of mostly by-the-numbers shoegaze-alt. rock, the record becomes a bit of a slog to get through.

Mind you, by-the-numbers shoegaze is still something I could very comfortably put on and just vibe to, enjoying it for what it is, but the promise of the first three tracks leaves something to be desired from the rest of the record. Ferment is honestly one of the most front-loaded rock LPs that I can think of.

The title track "Ferment" is fairly transcendent for me until it gets to that effing jumpscare at two minutes and forty eight seconds in (maybe I'm exaggerating for most listeners, but that shit certainly made me jump).

Unfortunately, much like Drop Nineteens' Delaware which I reviewed much earlier on in this series, Ferment is more of a record that I recognize as a classic because of its importance to the scene and the reputation it holds versus my own personal enjoyment of the project as a whole.

I can see why this record really does it for some folks who like their shoegaze loud and heavy, and I do really love those first three tracks and "Black Metallic" in particular is probably one of my most played shoegaze tracks period, having graced me with its blissful textures on many a zero-sleep bus rides into uni after pulling an essay all-nighter (cuz I'm trash like that sometimes). But the rest of it just never lives up to what it could have been for me.

But like I said in the Drop Nineteens review, a lot of shoegazers love this record. So again, I implore you to listen and form your own opinion. All in all, this is still a solid record by my tastes, but then I'm also very biased in favour of shoegaze as a genre of music.

What Came After That?

Catherine Wheel is yet another shoegaze band that did not survive of the turn of the century, though they did release four more records in the 90s.

Truthfully, I'd definitely recommend their sophomore LP Chrome over the debut album, because I feel that it's a more fully-realized project, with a track listing that flows better and contains overall better songwriting ("Black Metallic" notwithstanding).

The only real reason why I didn't opt for covering the follow-up record instead is because I wouldn't exactly call Chrome a shoegaze record in the primary sense; more of a heavy, dreamy alternative rock record with its roots in the scene, with roughly three or four actual shoegaze tracks here and there.

After dropping three more records, Catherine Wheel disbanded in 2000. I haven't really checked the rest of the records out, but going off of the RYM genre tags at least, it would seem the band never really put out another full-on shoegaze record.

Rob Dickinson released one solo record in 2005 after the group disbanded. Nowadays, the dude seems...very much into cars? Not exactly what I would expect from the usual shoegazing crowd, but then there was that one Lush song on their last LP.

Brian and Neil went on to form their own indie band called "50ft. Monster", which funnily enough immediately calls to mind the similarly titled PJ Harvey single. Again, haven't bothered to check this out yet.

I know it may sound like I'm not a big fan of this band based on the score I end up giving this record, but I'd be lying if I said there weren't more than a few great gems in this bands discography. Both of their first two records have a small but pretty loyal following, so I'm gonna strongly recommend you check both of them out and see if either of those records tickles your fancy. Regardless, "Black Metallic" at least is basically god tier shoegaze.

7/10

Highlights: "Black Metallic", "Texture", "I Want To Touch You"

[doomedandstoned]

DISASTROID Reveal Striking 4th Full-Length, ‘Garden Creatures’

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

Get ready for full-on galactic riffing, energetic rhythms, with moments of interstellar insanity. This is DISASTROID and their latest record, 'Garden Creatures' (2024) -- a swirling blend of colors drawn from a dynamic palette of psychedelic, grunge, desert, noise, and math rock influences.

This fourth full-length outing from the SFO band begins with the title track and is presented with rumbling force and jagged rhythms juxtaposed with clean, earnest singing and smooth melodic lines from frontman/guitarist Enver Koneya. At times the vocals soar like the pleas of some jerky cosmonaut thrust into the unknown vastness of outer space. Braden McGraw's drums thunder and churn like the roaring ocean. Travis Williams' bass is warm and pulsating.

Enver's guitar and Travis' bass trade barbs on "Stucco Nowhere," an ode to being stuck in a life of sameness and misery ("burning out within your head"). The singing builds to a crescendo, perhaps summoning sheer force of will to shake off the spell of mediocrity. There are some dreamy vocal harmonies that haunt overslept dreams, and finally a cry of frustration and despair to be set free from the shackles of it all.

"Mama says I need some help," laments Enver in "Figurative Object." The guitars chug with rocketing force, but often enter the realm of disorienting dissonance. This tendency towards the strange and uncanny continues in "Backwards Sleeping" and feels like a night of tossing and turning ("losing sleep for all that we have done"), complete with trippy guitar effects, rhythmic jolts, and ghostly droning.

"24" is fuzzy as all get-out, with screeching guitar hooks, unconventional rhythmic structure, and a misty hue of sadness in the vocals. Then "Hold Me Wrong" is like a fever dream, with a persistent bass groove, strumming and picking on the guitar, and exhausted pleas to "hold me tight, hold me right."

The penultimate song, "Light 'Em Up" is like a hallucination straight out of Blade Runner, with sounds and samples flying about us like fugitive visions. This is another where the bass is so integral to giving us a feeling of movement and cohesiveness in this shapeshifting world. The drumming here, as throughout the record, is stalwart and determined, whilst the riffmaking ranges from raucous to delirious. The record ends on a short banger, a riotous number "Jack Londonin'" with punk, noise, and math overtones.

Disastroid's Garden Creatures was recorded and produced by Billy Anderson and is releasing on Heavy Psych Sounds this weekend, February 23rd, on a spectacular variety of vinyl variants (get it here). Stick it on a playlist with The Melvins, Red Fang, Fatso Jetson, Kook, and Soundgarden.

Give ear...

SOME BUZZ

San Francisco veterans Disastroid have been serving up sludgy, grunge-infused stoner rock for the better part of a decade now, refining a sound that weaves heavy riffs together with angular guitar lines, odd time signatures, and hazy walls of fuzz. As influenced by 90's noise rock as they are by modern psych, doom, and post-metal, Disastroid delivers thick, satisfying stoner rock stomp while also embracing layers of noise, tripped-out feedback, and unpredictable song structures.

The current lineup of singer/guitarist Enver Koneya, bassist Travis Williams, and drummer Braden McGraw coalesced in 2011. They��re united by a desire to make heavy music that's loose instead of mechanical, a motivation to explore methods that make them sound bigger and more varied than a traditional rock trio, and a shared affection for the Amphetamine Reptile back-catalog. Thematically, their songs steer clear of genre cliches, touching instead on scattered aspects of modern life: technology fatigue, immigration, nuclear deterrence, the monotony of work, the existential dread of aging. Despite the subject matter, Disastroid never take themselves too seriously, injecting their live shows with an infectious sense of humor and their songwriting with math-rock quirks.

Disastroid’s latest outing, Garden Creatures, is a record about the darkness in the hidden corners of suburban landscapes — sinister overgrown gardens, secret collections kept in basements, the crime just beneath the surface, the pervasive loneliness under a veneer of normalcy. Accordingly, it’s a dark and atmospheric record, trading the stripped-down approach of 2020’s Mortal Fools for a thicker, heavier, and more layered sound. Legendary producer Billy Anderson (Sleep, Melvins, Neurosis) builds mixes that range from dark and dreamy to a thick, sludgy crunch, slowly pulling the listener through a range of sounds and textures, making sure things stay interesting. Singer/guitarist Enver Koneya's vocals are soulful and sometimes haunting, drifting above Disastroid’s characteristically off-kilter, grunge-influenced riffs.

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[thesinglesjukebox]

SCREAMING FEMALES - "BRASS BELL"

With John, we say goodbye to Screaming Females...

[7.19]

John S. Quinn-Puerta: This has been my song of the year since it came out. Maybe it's just the familiarity -- when a single is released in January, it has 12 months to make its way into my heart. Maybe it's that I saw Screaming Females for the first -- and last -- time in March at the EARL (East Atlanta Restaurant and Lounge), surrounded by friends I didn't have a year before. Maybe it's the rawness of Paternoster's guitar and vocals, her insistence on a rhythmic minor key riff that I just don't hear much without the layer of pretense that can surround it. There's no valorization of the '70s here, no bemoaning of what music used to be, but a reaffirmation of what the guitar always could be, of the idea that anyone, no matter how small and quiet they might seem, can close their eyes and yell and become a star, even if just in tiny rooms drenched in domestic beer and cigarette smoke. I did not know, when I submitted this song, my rediscovery of a band that I had first found doing college radio in 2012, that Screaming Females would announce their breakup a week later. I did not know that even as I wondered how I could possibly write a blurb for this, the most important song of my 2023 by any metric, would also be the swan song of an 18-year... it almost feels wrong to call the band a titan. That's never what Screaming Females was in ethos. They simply made the music they wanted to, beholden to no one but themselves. I have no means to eulogize them, but I still had to try. [10]

Nortey Dowuona: "I hope they keep going forever." -- Steve Albini [8]

Tara Hillegeist: Screaming Females may be the only grunge-indebted band to exist whose songs have only gotten better the clearer and prettier their production has become, and I've been on team "Marissa Paternoster is one of America's greatest living rock & roll singer-songwriters" since Castle Talk, without a single reason to betray my ideological loyalty in that regard in all the years up till now, either. And since "Brass Bell"'s got riffs that would make even Ratt bang their heads in appreciation, and lyrics like if Cocteau Twins wrote a Neil Young song -- in other words, it's a Screaming Females song... yeah, of course I think this is amazing. It'd take a harder sell and a colder heart than me to think anything else. [8]

Micha Cavaseno: Truly, I don't think of songs beginning with that kind of analog distortion as leading to the sort of gallop and retreating riff cycle pattern I associate with stoner rock and beard metal. I don't think in any of the times people would've mentioned this band I would've expected that I needed to make comparisons to Torche or Mastodon. And go figure: this first note is the note they're going out on. Hell of a way to go out, and just my luck really. [7]

Taylor Alatorre: Two weeks after Screaming Females released Desire Pathway, the J Mascis side project Heavy Blanket came out with Moon Is, an album of instrumental stoner-psych jams aimed squarely at those for whom "rip" is the default verb for guitar solos. There's no doubt that a similar path is open for Marissa Paternoster if she wants it; as if to confirm this, she played a show with the Dinosaur Jr. frontman just a few days after her band's break-up. "Brass Bell" is a solid showcase of the trio as a tight-knit riffing machine and not just a one-woman fireworks show, though there are a few too many concessions made for the radio airplay that never came. The flange effects feel like tacked-on regressions, and the wings of a high-flying, late-coming Paternoster solo are clipped after four terse measures. The sad reality is that the airwaves only seem to have room for one basement-band-doing-stadium-rock at a time, and if your name isn't White Reaper, you may just be out of luck. [6]

Ian Mathers: I mean, kudos to whoever made the wiki entry for this album list "punk blues" as the genre (follow your bliss!) but in every sense except the subcultural this is absolutely classic rock. The production, Marissa Paternoster's vocals and especially and gleefully so her soloing. It's great, in a way that makes me want to take up the air guitar and reach for words like "stentorian." [7]

Katherine St Asaph: I think I like this because of, not despite, the early-'00s radio rock feel. At times it almost feels like it's going to turn into Trapt (not an insult I swear). [7]

Brad Shoup: "Brass Bell" has something I always admired about Screaming Females, which is their uncanny ability to make nu-rock. They never really coded as "punk" for me: maybe stoner metal, but with a lighter guitar tone and an ability to write a hook. Because I grew up in butt rock's salad days, I guess I tend to hear it everywhere. But these riffs (the start-stop one and Phrygian-sounding one) and the way Marissa Paternoster punches into the chorus are modern-rock radio gold. Hell, the chorus even has the kind of fake-deep imagery that should get over. (Would a different alloy make living in a bell a tolerable situation?) Godspeed, Screaming Females. I'm sure all your subsequent bands will rock. [7]

Dorian Sinclair: Having spent the past three weeks on a placement where I learned, in great detail, about the history and function of carillons (bell towers, specifically those with two octaves of bells or more), I am definitively able to confirm: living in a brass bell would be really fucking loud! Central metaphor holds up! [7]

Rachel Saywitz: Sounds like a disaster on the horizon and a heroine's call to arms. [7]

Joshua Minsoo Kim: Everything starts to crumble once the actual verse arrives -- you can't feel the jaggedness of the start-stop guitar riff, and the band sounds all too eager to go straight into the chorus both the first and second time around. Unfortunately, the central metaphor there is too awkward, and is shouted with a conviction that leaves no room for it to be a proper hook. They almost convince me with the detours taken in the final third, but the radio-rock sheen is all too much: it sounds like I'm at a bar and the local band is trying way too hard to convince everyone of their energy. [3]

Alfred Soto: Marissa Paternoster's vocals are the right kind of arch and posh: when she complains, "It's too loud!" she sounds like a country club member sneering at Rodney Dangerfield. The rest of the riffage is not too loud, with interesting changes. [7]

David Moore: Every time I get really into a band a few years late they break up within the year. I take full responsibility and vow to stop listening to music. [8]

Daniel Montesinos-Donaghy: Long live Screaming Females, they rocked harder and longer than a lot (A LOT!) of posers, and they have songs that showcase their gnarled hookiness better than this (download "Ornament" for clear skin etc. etc.). [8]

Aaron Bergstrom: Thirty-five seconds of "When are they gonna get to the fireworks factory?" synth build, but we're talking about one of the most dependable indie bands of the past decade-plus, so you better believe they get there. Whether it's Marissa Paternoster screaming on guitar, or Marissa Paternoster just screaming, they've always lived up to their name. She deserves the plural all to herself. RIP to an institution. [7]

Frank Falisi: Screaming Females was an underrated experiment in texture. They could shift tactility live on the ridge of a dime. The big metal monster would suck in its woofer and start to strut different, guitar puffing over tom hits, which were doing the riffs. The bass was too big to hear and the bass was mercury. Something about playing live means performing life, which means playing the changes. Texture in music is a signal. It prepares your body to sound different. "Brass Bell" begins with washing electronics, a loop. It leers and jeers, like a Mica Levi film score on your fretting fingers. The mouth of sound is broad. "Brass Bell", Desire Pathway -- these are the descendants of All At Once (2018), of Marissa's Peace Meter (2021). Once you master bass and guitar and drum and the human voice, you can unmaster it, unwind it, break a string. "Brass Bell" breaks open after the noise into perfect form, crunched production, crisp like adenoidal panic. There's a perfect breakdown in the middle of the song, a perfect bring-it-all-down with a minute left before drumming back up, before one last chorus. "It's too loud!!" How many times have I said this at the Screaming Females gig? How many times has the sound entered my ears, all my complicated receptors and sets of crevasses ringing, only to feel my own texture quake at the sound? We talk sometimes of the collective frisson of the gig, of being a body among bodies. Divine. I think something like that happens on a studio sound too. Me and all my changes, a flange forever. [8]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox ]

[icantlose]

LEARN MORE ABOUT ME!

Favorite colour(s): Red, black, green, purple.

Favourite flavour(s): Salty, umami, sweet, sour...

Favourite genre(s): Angst, psychological, horror, comedy!

Favourite music: Grunge!!! Rock, hard rock, alternative rock, indie rock, funk rock, folk rock, punk rock, garage rock, stoner rock/acid rock, occult rock, glam rock, rap rock, celtic rock, art rock, prog, metal, funk metal, art metal, heavy metal, alternative metal, death metal, “proto-punk”, post-punk, funk punk, free-funk, jazz, cool jazz, smooth jazz, jazz rap, folk jazz, punk jazz, jazz fusion, swing, New Orleans Jazz, R&B, big band, blues, electric blues, chicago blues, blues rock, rap, hip-hop, nerdcore. crunk... 

Favourite movie: Toy Story 2. 

Favourite series: King of the HIll.

Last song: Devil - Shinedown

Last series: Breaking Bad

Last movie: Super Mario Bros.

Currently reading: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Currently watching: Breaking Bad lmao

Currently working on: Art -- working on a shading/highlights study

TAGGED BY: I stole c:

TAGGING:  Now you steal c:

[musicreveiwsbyezti]

August topster, I'm forced to go back to school with those the feral animals

14th: Siege-Dropdead (Powerviolence/Thrashcore): Powerviolence pioneers, and they debuted at their schools battle of the bands. It's alright, the saxophone can parts are quite interesting in the context of hardcore punk. Personally I don't feel the sticking power some people talk about, but I can still appreciate it.

13th: JPEGMAFIA-I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU (Experimental hiphop/Hardcore hiphop): I adore Peggy, but this album just isn't it. It's good and all, but just lacks something I can't put my hands on since it dropped. Idk maybe I just got tired of Peggy making yet another batch of songs that about bitching people he doesn't like.

12th: Dying Fetus-Destroy the Opposition (Brutal Death Metal): Good shit. I'd keep it short as DF has another entry higher up.

11th: Melvins-Stoner Witch (Stoner Metal/Stoner Rock): Melvins branching a bit further from sludge and grunge to stoner metal and rock. I heavily prefer their previous works like Bullhead and Houdini, but this album too is good. However the somewhat forced feeling of overlenghtening some songs do take away from the album itself.

10th: D.R.I.-Thrashzone (Crossover Thrash): Has one of the best 3 song starts of any albums I have heard so far. Takes its thrash and hardcore influences and wears it with pride. Sadly I don't have much to say. Worth a check if you like standard thrash metal.

9th: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard-Flight b741 (Boogie Rock/Blues Rock): King Gizz is sure is back. I didn't have high hopes up as I didn't vibe with the singles but the rest of the album is one of the best works of the band. They nailed the bluesy sound throughout the album. The lyrics are great and meaningful (yes I AM a silly Billy). I hope they will explore the bluesy genres in the future, maybe some r&b one day.

8th: Earth-Earth2 (Drone metal): This album is a true experience. I highly recommend if you have a spare 73 minutes.

7th: S.O.D.-Speak English or Die (Crossover Thrash): This album not just goes hard, but it is also funny. Best piece of musical satire I have heard.

6th: Wormrot-Hiss (Grindcore): Good. Wormrot is truly one of the goats of modern day grind.

5th: Dying Fetus-Reign Supreme (Brutal Death Metal): Oh my god this shit is brutal and heavy as fuck, and somehow is not corny like what most bd bands end up being. Also there are people who still waste their braincells over deciphering if From Womb To Waste is pro or anti abortion or not. Which I find funny.

4th: Nails-Every Bridge Burning (Grindcore/Powerviolence): NAILS IS BACK BABYYYYY. They riffed hard in this one. From the first single I knew this one would be one of my aoty for sure. I severely disagree with everyone who says that the guitar tone is shit on this album, this what grind sounds like, deal with it.

3rd: Yacøpsæ-Tanz, Grosny, Tanz... (Powerviolence): The best powerviolence record*. (I still prefer Nails and Combat Wounded Veteran albums, but Nails is more grind and CWV is more emoviolence , so it's best pv in the context of "pure" pv)

2nd: Bolt Thrower-Mercenary (Death Metal): "War destroys everything that makes us human, even if you survive the fronts you don't come back home as the same person the best fucking riff you will ever hear".

1st: Suicidal Tendencies-self title (Hardcore Punk): Punk as fuck, I'm tired, I can't write any good reviews today, fuck you. 8/10

[adriandiloca]

OMG follow my bands Instagram account, music will be releasing later this year.

No idea what genre we are, but there is heavy punk, Midwest emo, metal, grunge and stoner rock inspiration.

https://www.instagram.com/gaybestfriendband?igsh=MWpma21hdTFrNHRtZQ==

[metalhead-brainrot]

[Album of the day] Wet Cactus - Wet Cactus

Cantabria, Spain // 2015

[Genres] stoner rock, desert rock,* heavy psych

[Themes] marijuana, The Blues (TM)

[FFO] Hendrix

[Thoughts] Just a short post today. this self-titled release was an early introduction to metal for me. Though not widely known, I think Wet Cactus still outperforms much contemporary stoner rock I hear.** Like many stoner rock artists, the bassist is the vocalist (singing primarily in English), which I always like to see. Wet Cactus also brags two guitarists and some really consistent drumming.

Spain seems to really like their desert rock, which surprised me until I thought about their climate for about 10 seconds.*** I'll be moving to the country in the next year, so I'm putting out a call for any Spanish bands. If you know a Spanish band or are in one yourself, feel free to reach out; I'll listen to your music and might wind up promoting it here as well.

Otra vez para los hispanohablantes: voy a mudarme a España este año y quiero conocer más bandas de la región. Si superia una banda o estuviera en una banda, dígame el nombre o envíeme el enlace. Esucharé a la música y posiblemente lo promovería también.

o()xxxx[:::::::::::::::::> o()xxxx[:::::::::::::::::> o()xxxx[:::::::::::::::::>

* The line between stoner rock and desert rock is thin, with both terms originally applied to bands in the Palm Desert Scene. I will only use the term "desert rock" for music that has an evolutionary memory of grunge; "stoner rock" I use more generally.

** And I'm known for listening to too much stoner rock.

*** Also weed has been decriminalized in Spain for a while, which can't exactly hurt the psychedelic music scene.

[polyghostfacehours]

Cactus fruit sorbet, chunky monkey, devil's food chocolate, fudge behaving badly, lemon-lime sorbet, orange pineapple whip, phis food, purple daze, Tennessee mud? For Billy Loomis

Ask and you shall receive.

Billy Loomis Headcanon Meme: Ice Cream Edition

-Cactus Fruit Sorbet: a “this shouldn’t work but it does” headcanon.

I'll be honest, I don't really understand the context of this one? I'll go with if someone said those words to him. In the context of a relationship. If his partner said this to him he'd subconsciously get a little worried that they may one day want to leave for someone who "works" better with them, and that might lead to him getting toxic during future arguments by gaslighting and convincing you nothing was his fault. But on the outside he'd just shrug it off and say that he doesn't care if the relationship doesn't make sense.

-Chunky Monkey: a names, addresses, nicknames, etc. headcanon.

Well, Billy is already a nickname for his first name, William. But he also gets called Billy Boy by Stu sometimes and he absolutely hates it lmao. Not as much as he hates being called William though. One kid called him Willy in elementary and he got suspended for throwing hands.

Unlike Stu's isolated farmhouse, he lives in a suburb.

-Devil’s Food Chocolate: a vice headcanon.

Besides murder? Scaring people. Jump scaring them and seeing their faces and hearing their screams is immensely satisfying to him. He does it often and on purpose to people. A food vice of his is sunflower seeds. He'll have periods where it seems like he's practically addicted to them lol.

-Fudge Behaving Badly: a misbehaving/getting into trouble headcanon.

Surprisingly, Billy doesn't get in trouble with authority often. He's incredibly sneaky, and good at not getting caught. A lot of authority figures see him as a kind of Golden Boy, whilst his peers see him as a mysterious and cool bad boy. I HC this because I don't think Sidney would've outright dated a real, like, Bad Boy. Plus Tatum mentioned he was "Too perfect and destined to have a flaw" at one point. So I'm sure he's well hidden a lot of his misbehaving and worse moments from most people.

-Lemon-Lime Sorbet: a sexual/NC-17 headcanon (alt: a secret(s) h/c)

I'll go with a secret. Billy's planning on offing his father eventually. He always knew he would, since he's always lowkey hated his father. But because he depended on him back in high school, he couldn't do anything about it yet.

-Orange Pineapple Whip: a kinky headcanon (alt: an eccentricity h/c).

I'll go with eccentricity! Billy tugs at the ends of his hair when he's deep in thought. He does it during exams a lot. Billy also paces in his room when he gets hyped up imagining a scenario of any kind.

-Phish Food: a music headcanon.

Billy likes alternative rock a lot. He's also a fan of grunge, nu metal, and classic rock. He tolerates pop and all other genres, they're okay. Hates country.

-Purple Daze: a stoner/drugs headcanon.

Billy isn't a heavy drug user. But he does sometimes smoke weed or cigarettes. He's tried low doses of ecstasy before with Stu and you. My headcanons for Billy high can be found Here.

-Tennessee Mud: an alcohol, drunkenness, intoxication headcanon.

Billy is a bit wary of alcohol due to his father spending late night weekends at the bar with coworkers instead of his family. But he'll drink at parties. He holds his alcohol fairly well now, although he was a lightweight when he first started drinking. Unlike Billy high, Billy drunk is hard to discern from normal Billy. He's good at covering it up and acting the same as long as he isn't hammered.

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

[callousdegenerate]

What kinds of music would the doctors & numbers enjoy listening to?

Doctors were mentioned here

uhh, as for Numbers:

[]

Cyrus - idk anything with guitar that isn't super hard/heavy. The kind of music guys who listen to Weezer listen to

Two - probably would unironically enjoy meme music and ironic soundcloud rap just because its funny or sometimes has a good beat [even if the lyrics might be shit]. Might listen to random electronic stuff and then random pop or hip hop stuff

Three - pop and indie. The kind of music some 2010's hipster might like

Blue - pop, club music, and hip hop

Five - Pop, hip hop, lil bit of soul because maybe her family liked it and it just stuck with her

Six - alt rock, indie. She likes chill music but probbably had a wilder streak once

Violet - that kind of alt/indie music from bands like Evanescence and The Birthday Massacre, tbh. Gothic, morose, or just lots of loud guitars and woeful feminine voices because i 100% see her having been through that phase and no im not projecting as someone who also went through that phase

Eight - ??? Classical? Dude lives and breathes ancient music and at first he probably only did it because it made him feel superior but he just realy ended up liking it

Lav - literally anything that pumps her up because she needs the energy, especially for workouts. Does not totally discriminate on genre but probably isn't much of a heavy metal or hard southern country kind of listener.

Ten - probably a lot of pop music tbh. Anything with a nice rhythm/beat/melody since she seems to also like that in classical music

Pickle - pop/indie, hip hop, etc. unironically likes history's greatest pop queens and doesn't give a shit if people hear him singing Madonna or Lady Gaga or something. [wow im old idk whats popular now but you get my point]

Twelve - man probably listens to thrash metal or something idk. Grunge, stoner rock, maybe a little metal but the kind of metal metalheads make fun of other metalheads for liking [I know that's vague but if you know, you know]. Either way, if it's angry, he probably likes it.

[doomedandstoned]

Philly’s HIGH LEAF Lift Off with ‘Vision Quest’

~Review by Tom Hanno~

The Philadelphia stoner merchants in HIGH LEAF are preparing to drop their debut album on May 5th! The band, whose lineup consists of lead guitarist Patrick Fiore, Corey Presner on vocals and guitar, bassist Brian Schmidt, and drummer Dean Welsh, have created eight tracks that are influenced by grunge, stoner metal/rock, heavy psych, etc. These songs have all of the traits that are commonplace in the genre while still offering up something that feels fresh and exciting, yet familiar as well. That album is called 'Vision Quest' (2023), and it is the reason we've gathered here today.

Their first single ever is "Green Rider", opening the proceedings with a big bong hit followed by a long exhale. The fuzz factor of that first riff may make you think of a hazy, smoke filled room containing four stoners creating music for other stoners. There's an obvious Sleep influence going on, though with a vocal approach that is varied and incredible. Corey has bits and pieces of his influences that come through in his vocals, but he turns them into his own style without mimicking any of them.

LISTEN: High Leaf - "Green Rider"

"Vision Quest" sees High Leaf delving into their more psychedelic side for a great majority of the song, fortifying it with bluesy stoner sections, a Pink Floyd-esque feel, and ending the track with a grungy stoner metal vibe that features vocals influenced by the legendary singers that came to prominence in the '90s.

"Subversive" has a vocal style that will appeal to fans of Alice in Chains and Soundgarden, while the music pulls from both stoner and grunge genres. This is a powerful track that is packed with beefy riffs, and a solid rhythmic backbone. It is one of, if not the best song on Vision Quest, so anyone with an ear for this genre will absolutely love what High Leaf laid down here!

"Dead Eye" marks the halfway point of Vision Quest, steamrolling its way in with a fat sounding riff that is superb! As with the other tracks, this features more of Corey's excellent vocals, and the ultra thick riffs that are a staple of the High Leaf sound. It's not the best song on this record, but isn't weak in any way either.

"Hard to Find" continues on with the high quality music that the first half of the record displayed, with the difference being that there is a hard rock vibe that harkens back to the '80s and '90s. Corey also brings in an even more diverse display of his talents, and while this isn't my favorite track, it is my favorite performance of his. Pat pulls off a perfect lead on this track too, it's completely suited to the song and shows that he's got the chops needed to create memorable solos.

"Painted Desert" begins by briefly showcasing the drum and bass skills of Brian and Dean before the guitars enter. There's a serious Layne Staley meets Scott Weiland sound within the vocals, while the music is the stonerized version of Pearl Jam-esque grunge that you didn't know you needed, but will want more of after you get it. It's a quick track that's absolutely killer from beginning to end.

"March to the Grave" and "The Rot" are the final tracks on Vision Quest, and they both have all of the elements that High Leaf has given listeners since the "Green Rider" single started playing. Of the two I found that I prefer "The Rot," it's a bit more diverse sounding musically and vocally, but both songs are excellent examples of what this band can do.

Vision Quest is a stunning debut record in every way. These Philly stoner diehards are as talented as their music exhibits, and are sure to win over even the most stubborn music fan with their take on the genre. This simply means that you will find something to love even if you aren't totally sold on stoner music, as the fuzzed out riffs will work their way into your subconscious and refuse to leave. So head to Spotify to check out their lead off single as you wait for it to become available on Bandcamp. Enjoy!

Vision Quest by HIGH LEAF

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[therestlesssound]

21 Albums for 2021

Congratulations, you’ve survived year 2 of the apocalypse! 

Before I get going, I wanted to quickly preface the first entry in this musical repository by giving a little background on why it exists. 

Back in early 2020, before the shit hit the fan, Radar had just come off a string of really rad shows and things were rolling right along. Then the world began to shut down; professional sports teams canceled games, businesses closed their doors, the world locked down, and eventually live music became a distant memory. While I have tried to stay creative throughout the pandemic it has not always been easy without having a real-life outlet like live music to keep moving me forward.

This blog exists as a place for me to exercise that musical muscle while also sharing the things about music that I truly love (sonically and physically). My hope is that at least 1 person reading this will find a new band they like or a book they want to read or just feel connected in this crazy, digital world we live. 

With that being said, I figured this was the perfect time to share the music that really resonated with me in 2021. Initially I planned to do a top 10 list but as I began to put this together, I found it to be cumbersome as my rankings kept changing (who needs that kind of stress at the end of another hard year?). I’ve decided instead to simply share my favorite 21 albums in no particular order. 

For anyone interested in an easy spot to listen to all the music mentioned below, you can find the Spotify playlist HERE.

So, without further procrastination, here we go.

Mogwai - As The Love Continues

Vinyl/CD - Bandcamp

Release Date: February 19, 2021

Genre: Post-Rock, Instrumental Rock, Space Rock

Elder & Kadavar - A Story of Darkness & Light

Digital Album - Bandcamp

Release Date: December 3, 2021

Genre: Hard Rock, Psychedelic Progressive Rock, Stoner Rock

Blackwater Holylight - Silence/Motion

Vinyl/CD - Bandcamp

Release Date: October 22, 2021

Genre: Rock

Kanaan - Earthbound

Vinyl/CD - Bandcamp

Release Date: November 12, 2021

Genre: Heavy Rock, Psychedelic Jazz

Adele - 30

CD - Artist Website

Release Date: November 19, 2021

Genre: Pop Soul

The Bronx - Bronx VI

Vinyl/CD - Bandcamp

Release Date: August 27, 2021

Genre: Punk Rock

Kings of Leon - When You See Yourself

Vinyl - Artist Website

Release Date: March 5, 2021

Genre: Alternative Rock, Southern Rock, Garage Rock

King Buffalo - Acheron

Digital Album - Bandcamp

Release Date: December 3, 2021

Genre: Heavy Psychedelic Rock

Weezer - OK Human

Vinyl - Artist Website

Release Date: January 29, 2021

Genre: Alternative Rock

Manchester Orchestra - The Million Masks Of God

CD - Bandcamp

Release Date: April 30, 2021

Genre: Indie Rock

My Morning Jacket - Self-Titled

Vinyl - Band Website

Release Date: October 22, 2021

Genre: Indie Rock, Psychedelic Rock

Thrice - Horizons/East

Digital Album - Bandcamp

Release Date: September 17, 2021

Genre: Post-Hardcore, Alternative Rock

Ryan Adams - Big Colors

Vinyl - Artist Site

Release Date: June 11, 2021

Genre: Folk Rock, Indie Rock

Failure - Wild Type Droid

Digital Album - Bandcamp

Release Date: December 3, 2021

Genre: Alternative Rock, Post-Grunge

Monolord - Your Time To Shine

Vinyl/CD - Bandcamp

Release Date: October 29, 2021

Genre: Doom Metal, Stoner Metal, Psychedelic Rock

Royal Blood - Typhoons

Vinyl - Artist Website

Release Date: April 30, 2021

Genre: Alternative Rock, Hard Rock, Garage Rock

Turnstile - Glow On

Digital Download - Artist Website

Release Date: August 27, 2021

Genre: Hardcore Punk, Post-Hardcore, Alternative Rock 

Every Time I Die - Radical

Digital Album - Bandcamp

Release Date: October 22, 2021

Genre: Metalcore

Foo Fighters - Medicine At Midnight

Vinyl - Artist Website

Release Date: February 5, 2021

Genre: Rock

Green Lung - Black Harvest

Digital Download - Bandcamp

Release Date: October 22, 2021

Genre: Heavy Rock, Occult Rock, Psychedelic Rock

[whaleofatjme1920]

hi! i havent like... seen anything about matchups being closed or open or whatever so honest to god just do this whenever you feel up to it, theres no rush at all!!

i am 18, i use it/he pronouns (im AFAB), and im gay! im looking for a romantic matchup?

im about 5'9, i have curly shoulder length blonde hair (although the colour changes a LOT, im always dying it) and blue eyes! i have a couple of piercings in my nose and ears, and im very pale with pretty big dark circles, think like... a chronically exhausted raccoon. im a little chubby and curvy, and my posture is awful

i have a very light dash of freckles and an uneven smile, and my laugh has been described as "if you were to type ahahaha", i assume they mean i pronounce it really specifically but i dont know!

my sun sign is gemini, my moon is taurus and my rising is aries. i can be either very tired and reserved, or erratic and hyper depending on how im feeling. i have ADHD which leaves me very scatterbrained, and i cant always hold a train of thought of a conversation very well. my love language is gift giving and physical contact, and i love love LOVE horror movies and games, the gorier the better!

i have times where i like to be either along, or with someone but in relative quiet, because sometimes the world is a bitch and i dont wanna deal with it!!

i also try to be as caring as possible, although i have to admit i can come off as really blunt sometimes, but i do really care and try to be there for people as much as possible! im kinda like a dad friend and im fiercely overprotective of my loved ones. i also suffer from anxiety and paranoia, which does interfere with my relationships in negative ways, but i always listen to the other person and try to work out any problems with them

my style is kinda like a mix between grunge, and the skatig/stoner scene. a lot of baggy shirts and jeans + layers, although i hate makeup and hats with a passion. i love accessories too: necklaces and bracelets and bangles and earrings!

i love heavy metal, but i also love other genres of music like indie, and bedroom pop and 80s music! basically: if i hear a somg i like no matter what genre ill listen to it :D

i love horror, but i also love comedies and chick flicks way too much! my rom is full of posters and candles and incense holders. i also smoke, which isnt something im overly proud of but its a part of my life

in an NSFW sense, im a verse switch, i can do anything! i like a lot of kinks, like praise + degradation, bondage, weapons, itd honestly be easier to say what im not into (bodily fluids + general grossness really. im open to try absolutely anything) as long as i know what im getting into and have time to do a lot of research!

thats pretty much it for me lol, tale as much time as u need obviously and im sososo sorry if ur matchups r closed !!

Your matchup is… Laughing Jack!

Read more because of NSFW :}

In General:

Once again, I am entirely governed by my intuition when I write these and for some almost unholy reason, this time, it was screeching Laughing Jack! I took a moment to think about the others, maybe Masky? Maybe EJ? BEN, if I knew him better? It might be the gemini, or the taurus moon, hell maybe it was the kinks? But, I am living for this matchup and I am going to explain in great detail. Thank you.

Things he likes about you:

The first thing I actually liked about this ask was the height thing lmfao. I was like “yeah. Good” and I just think LJ would really enjoy that too. Your blond hair is really, really nice to him! He will thread his claw like fingers through it, and mention the different colors it looks like AND HE WILL GO WILD WHEN YOU DYE IT. OMFG please show this clown the dyes he will help you with it and he will love it. He’ll call you different pet names off the colors lmfao. Your eyes are so beautiful to him he will never stop comparing them to blue raspberry though. I don’t make the rules. He would absolutely do that. He thinks you’re so handsome though like let him just wrap his expando arms around you and hold you. Your freckles and your smile make his heart just expand??? Like, he can’t explain it but it’s so dashing and darling to him! Your laugh too!! Like it’s so darling he could listen to it all day. Just loves your voice. Also likes that you like gore. Have you met this man? ABsolutely. Your style also melds really well with him tbh. I think the two of you would actually be really aesthetic. He loves your piercings so much!!! Let him admire them!! I also think LJ likes the movies/genres you mentioned so that’s pretty nice too.

General cute stuff:

SO I see so many cute things happening between the two of you and my heart is gone. Out the window because of it. On the genres and movies?? Have movie dates with the clown!! He actually really likes chick flicks too and will always be up to watching them with you. Also likes heavy metal, so jam out with him. He’s also a big “I will listen to anything and if I like it, I like it” kind of guy so like, I can see music dates being a thing too. LJ tends to shift through moods as well, sometimes gets a little confused, but y’know I think he’d get along with someone who can understand him. Furthermore, I think he’s also big on gift giving and physical contact. Depends on the foods you like, but he’s a big “I will bake stuff for you” kind of guy. Also loves physical contact. Is he touch starved? No. Does he still want to pick you up and encase you in his arms and love you and pepper your face in kisses? Absolutely yes!! LJ admittedly isn’t the best for quiet but he will try his hardest for you. Just those soft moments, y’know? I can also see you two just cuddling with each other, humming or in the kitchen together swaying and having a really nice time. Just SOFT.

You two as a couple & NSFW:

SO, I think LJ would be a super attentive lover. Your anxiety and paranoia, for instance? LJ just wants the best for you and to make sure you’re safe, happy and healthy. He’d be really, really patient and understanding and I think he’s actually just really good on communication! So, as long as you’re willing to communicate with him, I think things would go pretty well. You also mentioned liking comedies so please laugh with him and have fun!! I also think that LJ would mention your posture every now and then but that’s literally just because he wants you to have a nice spine. He might bring it up when he sees it’s really not ideal. Just know he’s doing it because he loves you. He’s also really helpful if you were thinking about something and then lost the thought. So just, let him remind you. Then again, if it ever gets annoying or anything, just tell him and he’ll back off. He finds it so sweet that you’re caring and a dad friend, he needs someone like that in his life! But, the blunt thing? He could use that too. He’s admittedly blunt himself and not one to sugarcoat anything, so like, please throw it back at him. He’s also protective himself! Will buy you cool posters and incense he thinks you like. Candles too! And y’know, he’s got you 100% Just adores everything about you. From your laugh, to your physical appearance, and you as a person on the inside. It’s all so admirable to him and he loves you so, so much.

I feel like the kinks often solidify how I feel about a ship and in this case, it was pretty definitive. Everything you said seemed to line up oh so perfectly with LJ imo. LJ is the perfect mixture of praise and degradation or whatever you’re in the mood for. One minute he’s calling you a good boy and the next he’s calling you a whore or whatever else you like to be called. Looks you in the eye, rough, domineering, and ties you up in the most delicious ways possible. Will make it hard to breathe with how much pleasure he’s giving you. He’s also relatively flexible! Both figuratively and literally! If you challenge him or manage to wrangle him down, he will live for your work on him. Just make him yours, please. Weapons? Do…. Do…. Do his claws count? He will trail those up and down your body while fucking you, making you wonder if he’s gonna cut or not. Is he going to leave marks? Maybe. You taste so sweet to him. He’s also got a thing for cum so like, have fun with that. Both his and yours. Y’know cinnamon buns? All that white cream? Frosting dripping everywhere? That. You are the cinnamon bun. Make of that what you will

Closing Thoughts/Other Things:

Hi love bug! No, don’t apologize for anything, I feel as if I should apologize to you (and everyone else who isn’t sure on the status of my matchups and stuff) for not making it clear from the get go that everything is open unless I’ve said otherwise! That’s 100% my bad, and I apologize for not communicating that more clearly to you, and everyone else. Other than that, oh my goodness I loved reading this! You seem like such a wonderful person. I love candles and incense holders too so tell me about yours! My favorite incense holder I have rn is a koi fish pond. Anyways, as per usual, let me know what you think and I hope you enjoyed! <3

[faunroyalty]

the Losers in highschool

Richie is a huge band kid, and plays trombone. he also learns bass guitar, some piano, most other brass instruments, and any percussion instrument he can get his hands on. that's adhd, babyyyy

Richie was really into like, heavy metal like iron maiden as a younger teen, but leans more towards punk and ska in his later teens/early twenties. he listens to most genres though tbh

he started a ska punk band once, and they played one show and were banned from ever performing at the school talent show again. apparently they were too "political" and "inappropriate"

Richie is that one super smart kid who doesn't even have to try

Sonia won't let Eddie march, but she compromises by letting him join pit. he kills on marimba

sophomore year, they somehow mess up Eddie's schedule and they put him in auto shop by mistake. he'd always had a passing interest in cars, but being in that class really cemented it. he decided to stay in the class after the first week

Stan was in band at first (he played clarinet) but switched to art junior year. he's great at still life, and has a sketchbook he takes with him birdwatching

a few of the kids Stan used to play baseball with as a kid tried to get him to try out for the baseball team, but he just, wasn't interested in being on an actual team

Stan takes a whole list of ap and sat prep classes. he's constantly drowning in stress, but he still graduates as the valedictorian of his class

Mike plays football, so he doesn't march, but plays alto sax during concert season

he's also in the school's newspaper club. he's a busy kid

he wrote an article on the agricultural history of the area, and it won him a scholarship

Mike is the first one to get a car and a license, and the others take turns carpooling to school with him

Bill plays trumpet, because of course he does, but teaches himself guitar when home sick with the flu

he gets really into like, grunge and alt rock in his later teens/early twenties

Bill is in creative writing, and Mike talks him into writing short stories for the paper

Ben is fully tech theatre. he becomes the unspoken lead of most builds by sophomore year, and some upperclassmen resent him for it a bit. others are just happy the sets look fantastic

he uses his study hall period by being one of the school's library assistants

Ben does try out for track, along with Eddie, and they both would've made the team, if the coach wasn't such a huge piece of shit... he tries getting Eddie to join anyway, but he won't do it unless Ben can.

Beverly plays french horn/marches mellophone, but is also unofficial color guard outfit concept designer. she doesn't make them herself, but she helps pick them out, helps tailor them, and mends any tears throughout the season

Bev and Richie are those punk stoners that smoke behind the bleachers

Bev and Richie go to local shows together often, and once, Richie got elbowed in the pit and got a black eye, and Bev got an earring ripped out stage diving on the same night. they took a picture together with Rich's eye swollen shut and blood running down Bev's face and neck. it's one of their faves

They have a whole collection of Polaroids, both good and bad. the good ones are mostly Bev, who's kind of an amateur photographer