Music News

I'm taking a break from album reviews this week to update you all on what's been goin' down recently in the music world.

Ronnie James Dio Has Stomach Cancer

According to his official Web site, http://www.ronniejamesdio.com, iconic rock singer Ronnie James Dio has been diagnosed with stomach cancer.

From his wife, Wendy Dio:

Ronnie has been diagnosed with the early stages of stomach cancer. We are starting treatment immediately at the Mayo Clinic. After he kills this dragon, Ronnie will be back on stage, where he belongs, doing what he loves best, performing for his fans.

Thanks to all the friends and fans around the world that have sent well wishes. This has really helped to keep his spirit up.

The quote implies that they were able to catch the cancer relatively early. Here's hoping Dio makes a full and speedy recovery.


NEW Slash Song Leaks
Ex-Guns n' Roses guitarist Slash performed a new song, "By the Sword," at a benefit concert for the Los Angeles Youth Network (LAYN) this past Sunday at the Avalon in Hollwood. Filling out the band for the performance were Dave Navarro (ex-Jane's Addiction) on guitar and Travis Barker (Blink 182) on drums.

Check out a video of the performance here:

No Misdirection Here

The Great Misdirect is the sixth studio album from the North Carolina prog-metal outfit Between the Buried and Me. BTBAM is known for pushing the envelope when it comes to experimentation, and The Great Misdirect is no exception. The album starts off with “Mirrors” – a dreamy yet haunting guitar piece that sets the tone for the album. Next comes “Obfuscation” and “Disease, Injury, Madness” – probably the most “classic” BTBAM songs on the record. They follow the harsh to soft to harsh model that the band is known for. The second half of the album is where the band starts exploring some very uncharted terrain. “Fossil Genera” starts off with a Danny Elfman inspired piano riff that evolves into some sort of demonic sounding circus music. After the initial lunacy of the intro the song slows down some, and a beautiful acoustic section ends the track. The next track,” Desert of Song,” is perhaps the most unusual on the album. This may have something to do with the fact that it’s a straightforward country song complete with acoustic guitars and a pedal-steel guitar solo. BTBAM tested these waters before with a country breakdown on their previous album, Colors, and now with “Desert of Song” they’ve truly let their southern roots come through. The album closes with the epic, 18-minute “Swim to the Moon.” – a monster of a song whose brutality is met with equal parts technicality and precision.

While some of the band’s lingering faults still manage to seep through the cracks on the album, they’re less of an issue than ever. There are less forced, awkward transitions during sections and the album as a whole sounds cohesive – for BTBAM standards that is.

Rating: 9/10

Check out the album closer "Swim to the Moon":



If you like what you hear, the whole album is streaming on the official Between the Buried and Me MySpace.

Different Strokes for Julian Casablancas

Phrazes for the Young is the debut solo album from Julian Casablancas, better known as the vocalist for the indie-rock band the Strokes. The album is an awesome blend of rock, rhythm and blues, folk and gospel tied up nicely in the guise of catchy synthpop. Casablancas is able to draw inspiration from decades of American music to create something fresh and original without sounding campy or outdated. There are of course moments in the album that might be too experimental or “out there” for some listeners – the banjo solo in “Ludlow St.” comes to mind – I, however, think these moments just add to the album’s offbeat charm.
Phrazes really showcases Casablancas’ skills as an arranger and songwriter. For fans expecting just another Strokes album – save your money.

Rating: 9/10

Mars Volta Prove That Less Is More With Octahedron

Progressive band The Mars Volta are back with their fifth full-length studio album “Octahedron”. Let me start off by saying that this is not a typical Mars Volta record. This album is much more subdued and mellow than any of their previous efforts, most notably the disappointing over-the-top nonsense of their 2008 release “The Bedlam in Goliath.” Though not a concept album in the truest sense, the songs on “Octahedron” do share a lot of similar musical ideas. All of the songs on Octahedron create a haunting, ethereal atmosphere with the exception of Cotopaxi, which has a very fast-paced, Bedlam-esque sound. Perhaps the best track on the album is Copernicus, which mixes bluesy vocal melodies with sparse electric guitar and some electronica thrown in for kicks. There are many subtle nuances on this album that may require a few listens to fully digest. It’s definitely a grower.

Rating: 8.5/10