HERE’S A BUNCH OF MUSIC SUGGESTIONS
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 4:30pm by Devin TownsendIn no particular order…
Tenet, the band by and including Jed Fucking Simon. A super intense cross of old school know-how and current awesome. This man’s right hand is up there with the best (Hetfield, etc…).
City Of Fire: What Caustic Thought has evolved into. Byron’s new band with Burton Bell on vox, mixed by Greg Reely. The first song is a CRUSHER
3 Inches of Blood: All hail hometown awesome. Shane Clark is THE MAN… Val from Zimmers Hole is in this as well…
Zimmers Hole: Jed, Byron, Gene and Val. Three records out now on Century Media. Be afraid while pissing yourselves. Awesome, awesome live band.
Opeth: Really, what can you say that hasn’t been said? Classy, intelligent, and incredibly incredible. We all know “Deliverance” and “The Drapery Falls,” etc., but man… “Benighted” was stuck in my head for two months straight at one time.
Meshuggah: The only thing I dislike about Meshuggah is the fact that their name gets used in association with TONS of bands that have NO IDEA what it takes to be the masters. You can’t be Meshuggah. Sit back and bathe in their brilliance and listen to Catch 33 from beginning to end while reading the lyrics.
Gojira: From Mars to Sirius, track 2… fucking hell…
The Wildhearts: Ginger is a musical savant, an incredibly passionate and natural musical entity. I love him, and I love his music. Chutzpah! by the Wildhearts is gold, as is everything they do… it pours out of the man. My personal HOLY FUCK moment for the past two months came from listening to the song “Jake,” that he wrote about his son on his solo album Yoni. You have to be tough as fucking nails to have the strength to be honest, and Ginger makes nails seem like styrofoam packing insulation.
Behemoth: Amazingly dedicated to their craft. The passion is undeniable. immense respect.
Steve Vai: In these times, when most (if not the majority) of our scene can’t read music (nor do most of us know what the hell fret is what note), we tend to forget the musical dynasty of Steve Vai. Not only can he school us all in the ways of guitar, but give him a piece of PAPER and a PEN, and he’ll write ten variations of the lesson for a three-hundred piece orchestra. Bless the guy and his music. Love him.
Morbid Angel: Domination changed my world in a time where many “death metal” vocalists sound like Super-Grover (I fucking do…). I imagine David Vincent yelling at the plumber for over0charging him and tearing a hole in the space time continuum. I LOVE the band, and I LOVE his voice.
W.A.S.P.: Like a truly dark version of Motley Crue back on their first two records. I always had the feeling Motley truly cared what we thought, and those suspicions were confirmed after Theatre of Pain came out. Nothing against them, it just felt like a bait and switch. W.A.S.P. pissed my dad off. That was all that mattered when I was twelve. My mom liked Theatre of Pain, so I never bought it.
Venom: “Powerdrive”… weird production but a defining disk for me.
The Young Gods: I keep coming back to them, I was totally hooked on ‘Only Heaven’ and had a hard time getting into Second Nature, now Second Nature is a ‘desert Island’ disk for me.
Ravi Shankar: Connected, schooled, brilliant, centered, and makes any improvisations I (or most people I know) ever do seem incredibly vulgar and unimportant. Check this:
Jeff Beck: This clip is among the most connected guitar things I’ve ever witnessed:
Myrkskog: The first track on Deathmachine rocked me harder than most things that year:
Foetus: “Mortgage” is by far my favorite track off Gash …it was my soundtrack to self destruction along with White Noise by Cop Shoot Cop for two solid years :). I couldn’t find “Mortgage,” but here’s at least something off Gash, and some Cop Shoot Cop.
Cop Shoot Cop
King’s X: I have nothing but love for these guys. Gretchen changed my life. Doug Pinnick is an incredible human being.
Motorhead: This is the first song I ever really learned on guitar.
Grotus: Maybe the pinnacle moment in my musical evolution came when I saw these dudes open up for Mr. Bungle in ‘90. I obsessively followed them to their shows. I contacted Lars, the singer, awhile back to tell him how much they meant to me, and he remembered me as that “weird kid that was at all our shows.”
Stravinsky: “The Rite of Spring” ladies and germs… the single most important piece of music written in the 20th century as far as I’m concerned. There’ s no justice I can do to an explanation that you can’t find online. THE HEAVIEST MUSIC EVER MADE.
Gene Hoglan
Meldrum: Gene motherfucking Hoglan and his incredibly beautiful band, in more ways than I can count. RIP Michelle, I never knew her, but I’ve known of her since Phantom Blue.
…and another band of Gene’s, Mechanism… dizzying chaos with Val (Zimmers Hole) on vox.
The Clancy Brothers: Fuck yeah Ireland!
Johnny Cash: “Punishing Beauty,” the second heaviest piece of music ever put to disk.
Mike Patton: Fascinating, artistically honest and determined, incredibly talented and innovative with a voice that puts every single one of us to shame. THAT’S how you sing in tune while rocking folks. Some folks have it, most of us can only aspire to it.
Tom Waits: He has more soul in his toenail than I have in my entire back catalog. “Hold On” is a defining track for me, but choosing is just dependent on mood.
Red Harvest: Crushing industrial… this is the only version I could find of this song. The album was Cold Dark Matter.
Samael: “Shining Kingdom”… unbelievable, fucked me up for a long time. Incredibly brilliant music by some of the most brilliant minds I’ve had the chance to meet. Passage is a milestone as far as I’m concerned.
“Weird Al”: Sorry, but without “Weird Al” and Van Halen 1 on the jukebox at the old Godfathers Pizza in Surrey, I’d probably be a carpenter. His medleys are brilliant… he was really a stunning musician in many ways.
The Smalls: THE BEST CANADIAN BAND OF ALL TIME… enough said.
The Cardiacs: Sing To God was so brilliant that everyone thought it was just a fluke. Nope, they did that ON PURPOSE. They were light years ahead.
Radiohead: Kid A forever and a day. Humbling and defined a great trip.
OLD: James Plotkin is a hero of mine… his choices of notes to include in his loops are the sign of a mind that is on a different wavelength. Formula I have listened to about 1,500 times.
…I can’t find anything off that album, but heres something along those lines…
Godflesh: I can never decide between Streetcleaner and Hymns, so I just decided on Jesu, which also cleans many a floor with awesome polish (pretty good, eh?).
Judas Priest: The first metal songs that rocked my world away from the Eurythmics and Taco were “Victim Of Changes” from Unleashed in the East, Motorhead by Motorhead, and “Flying High Again” by Ozzy. I became totally intrigued by Priest mainly because of KK Downing. I think if there was an overall guitar hero, it would be him after seeing this video as a ten year old. Mix that with EVH and Steve Morse and you had a pimply, masturbating guitar nerd.
The Cowboy Junkies: A beautiful, haunted Canadian band. The Trinity Session is a perfect little moment in time. Not for everyone, to be sure, but definitely for me. Great for road trips.
Metallica vs. Slayer. Loved Metallica, Liked Slayer… the last song that knocked me on my ass was “Leper Messiah.” However, my favorite song overall was “Ride The Lightning” – at the end of the solo where it goes from double kick to toms.
Megadeth: Was never a huge fan, but “Hook in Mouth” was a huge song for me, if that makes any sense.
Trevor Jones: The score to The Dark Crystal and Tron were huge inspirations, plus the ending of “Music Of The Night” by Andrew Lloyd Webber where it plays on the dissonance… “I Want To Live In America” from West Side Story, most of Jesus Christ Superstar, and parts of Fiddler On The Roof and Paint Your Wagon.
…here’s a great instrumental clip from Fiddler:
Zoviet France and Rapoon: Incredibly cool, amazingly descriptive, beautiful ambient music by people that would not have any time for me, and would not be fun to party with.
…here’s an example… my favorite album is probably Darker By Light. Seriously, I’ve listened to that record thousands of times. I think Robin Storey is an absolute master genius freak of nature.
Neurosis: Through Silver and Blood scared me, and I loved them for it. Like a gray and diabolical version of Kyuss (or at least that’s what I thought that night when this record started looming up in the background).
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum: Absolutely brilliant, next level genius.
Mutemath: “Chaos.” This song knocked me on my ass. Man… killer production and vibe.
Bon Iver: This album helped me through a rough patch. Love this song…
Man… the list goes on and on… I love me some music.
-DT
It’s going to take a long fucking time to listen to all of this.
I’ve already got a head start with Young Gods, Cardiacs and a few choice others but man, you’re so right. Thank feck for last.fm
Don’t forget the unsung Canadian septet UNEXPECT.
Who just finished up a tour with Dream Theater, Opeth, and Bigelf no less.
Who are shit, no less.
Holy shit, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum! Their music is better watching it than listening to it. My favorite song of theirs is Helpless Corpses Enactment. The rest of that list is fucking awesome too!!
I discovered these guys years ago because of their most “famous” song (“Sleep Is Wrong”) off their first album and fell in love. I’ve had the privilege of seeing them live a few times and their show is truly an experience. Good stuff, really, really good stuff.
I like Phthisis, Have you guys heard Stolen Babies? Check out the music video for “Push Button”
here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHDhA35KR_I
enjoy! …The World Is A Ploy…..
Stolen Babies is an amazing band, too. I’m anticipating their new album.
Proud to say I know and enjoy a hell of a lot on that list. Rock the fuck on.
Wow this is a goldmine. Thanks Devin.
How much time did you spend on this entry?
This list includes unbelievably awesome music and unbelievably bad music.
Hell Yeah you selected a Gojira song, which is definitely one of the best death metal band here in France. To every one here : listen to Hacride, another great french band : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPUNI89W5yA
It’s a kind of progressive death metal with many things in it … I don’t want to say too much about it, just listen and discover by yourself : http://www.deezer.com/listen-4530756
Just got my copy of Addicted. Signed no. 1623. Doesn’t disapoint. I live in the land of Venom and the Wildhearts. Have had many an amusing conversation with Ginger down at the nightclub Legends. Earth Vs. was my first love.
J.G. Thirlwell, COP SHOOT COP, and Godflesh’s STREETCLEANER for the win!
You have my complete respect as a music enthusiast.
I can’t wait for the show in San Antonio Jan. 13.
Maybe we can talk music.
- Nico
Ocean Planet is track 1 off From Mars to Sirius, not track 2 =P
Yeah, Backbone is #2 :)
We are Gojira from FRANCE and this is BACKBONE(crowd goes wild)
Fuckin rights with The Smalls. Just heard em this past summer myself. I actually dont mind SOME of Corb Lunds country shit as well.
Thanks for reppin Canada!
Fucking excellent list and good to see such diversity.
Can’t wait to listen through the bands you suggested I haven’t heard. All heil the music g33k collective.
I gotta agree with you on Passage. Samael are a seriously overlooked band who crossed a lot of boundaries. Their drummer is an incredibly talented pianist who recomposed the entire Passage album on the piano — beautiful, haunting music.
No one telling you to listen emo crap like Killswitch Engage or Ifingereddabearonce!!!
I wonder why………
Some great suggestions. Thanks Devin :-)
Outside of metal, I reckon you just might like:
David Sylvian – Darkest Dreaming (this guy has a voice like saffron and the most tasteful production values, and reminds me a lot of Devin. There’s huge integrity in his music)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtxQYQCR2-k
Gary Numan – I’m An Agent (anthemic early 80’s synth rock)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAY1DRlui3c
Frank Bridge – Summer (criminally underrated early 20th Century British composer, staggering harmonies – this almost certainly inspired the music of Alien)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keoxcl-Kx_Q
Einojuhani Rautavaara – Vigilia (Finnish composer and brilliant choral orchestrator)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcTILG_9zUg
COP SHOOT COP = FUCKING BRILLIANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great list!!!
If I may make a humble addition, another musician in the “connected” category would be the late, great Chris Whitley.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1vZ3NIuJ3s
Damn good taste! Loved to see Neurosis in there. Heaviest band of all time, imo. Absolutely brilliant.
I’ll have to start checking some of the more unfamiliar stuff from that list.
Myrkskog!!!
Great choice. Though sadly now that Destructhor is in Morbid Angel (and was in Zyklon) and apparently doing some session work for 1349 when needed it look sunlikely we’ll get any more soon.
Where’s WEEN?!?!?!
Have to say, I love Ween.
FUCK! I forgot Ween!
White Pepper!
I’m checking out the song “Flutes of Chi” right now, these guys are awesome!!
stuck in my cabana, livin’ on bananas and blow.
I remember hearing that Stravinsky song in an introduction to classical music course and it blew my mind
I haven’t listened to Zoviet France for years. I grabbed a bunch of them, Deutsch Nepal and other bands in that genre a while ago and was really into it. Really mind-numbing stuff.
Another cool artist I got into was Randy Greif. He works with other artists in this genre a bit, including Robin Storey for an album. His “Alice in Wonderland” 5-disc set was a trip. You can buy the MP3 album on Amazon for $18 (all five CD’s!!!).
Mezzanine – Massive Attack
I was pleasantly surprised to see that you enjoy Mute Math…awesome band!
Inertia Creeps is such a great song!
Saw Massive Attack live a couple of weeks ago. Utterly fantastic.
Devin you made my day, again! /,,/
Holy shit, just recently I had been thinking how both Tenet and City of Fire are criminally underrated and they’re the first two bands you post, awesome.
There is too much WIN in this thread. Zimmer’s Hole! Loved their first album. Also, I have a friend named Miles, and he is now and forever known as Miles of Cock because of them. Glad to see Opeth’s Benighted mentioned too. Might be my favorite track on that album, even though it’s totally ‘not’ metal. Gojira, Meshuggah, Behemoth, Samael, all are great. As for Godflesh, I usually go with ‘Pure’, as that’s a masterpiece in my eyes. However, track four on Hymns (‘Anthem’) is epic. Also, check out this for a good laugh (it matches up really well, especially around 3:15 or so):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMMlN49_sYY
There’s tons of other music in here that I’ve never heard of. Thanks Devy!
big praise for giving grotus their due. fantastic, fantastic band. “slow motion apocalypse” has been in constant rotation for 15 years and still stands up. too bad they were chewed up by “the industry”…
nice to see the smalls on there. Great band!
Life long Tom Waits fan here. He’s an American treasure. Best stuff out there.
Mezzanine is a great album. I fuckin love that you included the Clancy Brothers
Good call on the Broderick stuff (jesu/Godflesh).
That City of Fire track is fucking GREAT.
Some great choices in there. Neurosis and Messhugah are my 2 favorite bands. Gotta love Red Harvest , Godlfesh and Gojira too.
I expected to see Ministry on the list but hey, you can’t include them all.
If I could have a fraction of the tone and writing ability of Ty Tabor, I would die a happy man.
CARDIACS RULE! (your hopes and fears, that is)
I saw you (with Strapping) play with The Smalls in Alberta like 8 years ago.
It was a great show and I remember it fondly. (there’s rumours around here of The Smalls reuniting!!!)
Devin, you forgot WEEN on your list!
Glad to see you’re a Tom Waits fan. He’s the best.
BON IVER. FUCK YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Samael! Good choice
So many bands…this is amazing!
This might be the most in depth post in the history of the internet… if not the internet. Thanks much man, going to take some time to go through. Lots and lots of good stuff I recognize already though. I love when musicians actually know music as well.
Holy crap this is awesome. Best release party ever, man!
Wow, Mr. Townsend, a smile lit up on my face when I saw that you included “The Rite of Spring”. As both a classical bassoonist and a metal head the parallels that can be noticed are really not so surprising. Stravinsky was a master of his craft.
Fantastic list, thank you for sharing!
devin! no zappa?? you suck! boo!
As a resident from Oakland, CA.. I STRONGLY suggest everybody taking a serious listen to Sleepytime Gorilla Musuem.
LOCUST STAR!!!! Now im crossed, smiling and stiff.
Excellent page to bookmark and refer to. That’s the first time I heard Mutemath, really good sounding stuff
Lots of awesome bands here… But Radiohead? The most overrated emo-band ever? Fuck Radiohead!
wow, more of these kinds of posts please
I thought for sure you would include something from Headstones. Oh well – some good stuff you have suggested. Oh…Godfather’s Pizza! Good times back then.
The Smalls? Really? I thought everybody North of the Border thought Rush was the “greatest Canadian band of all time, eh?”
King’s X, Weird Al, Johnny Cash, Gojira. Some cool tunes, Devin. You obviously have good taste.
And I do love me some Jeff Beck. …And his current bass player (Tal Wilkenfeld) as well. Cute as a button, and she runs circles around 99.99% of the bassplayers out there. She’s insanely good.
Mechanism really is the shit. It features the Atomic Clock and sounds like a mix of SYL and Zimmer’s Hole.
THANK YOU! Finally someone else extremely stoked for MECHANISM…
Ordering CD now. Thanx Devy!
Holy crap! Thanks DT! Freakin epiphany with Sleepytime Gorilla Museum.
thank you SO MUCH for putting stravinsky there…classical music can be incredibly heavy xD
Sleepy Time!
I like some of these bands: Opeth, Meshuggah, Behemoth, Gojira, Morbid Angel. Also I too hate that Meshuggah is grouped in with bands it shouldn’t be grouped with, I’ve gone ot deathcore articles and people have been grouping Meshuggah with deathcore, Meshuggah was from way before deathcore and is tech. death. I mean I like deathcore and all but I don’t think Meshuggah is that immature to be a deathcore band, besides… they sound nothing like deathcore; to me anyway.
Oh yeah, I also like Johnny Cash, one of the best voices I’ve ever heard.
Agreed. the cover he did of “hurt” Was brilliance.
I have 4 shots left on this vodka and im gonna watch allah this. allah akbur.
If you like the Stravinsy piece, you’ll really love Alfred Schnittke.
He really made some schizo music! I know I love it! Dunno if it’s available on youtube and I’m too lazy to check it out.
I saw SYL for the first time when you were touring with the smalls. One of the best nights of my life.
Man Dev, you really don’t give yourself enough credit . I also loved the fact you picked a Gojira song, and their best one (IMO) at that.
Not sure if anyone is reading this anymore, but i thought i’d mention german death metal band Golem. Check out Dreamweaver if you like both death metal and Stravinsky. I wonder if Devin has heard them at all.
A lot of these bands i just dont like,I’m not close-minded either
ha,I’ve heard these bands for years; perhaps my ears just dont agree so well with the music
although i do like a few listed up there,Such as johnny cash,radiohead,eddie Van halen,motorhead,Judas priest. but not much more than that. i hate WASP and all those other glamour 80 bands. fucking gay.
i appreciate what the old metal has evolved into these days with bands like malodorous,white chapel,dying fetus,disfigure the goddess,tool,k0rn,Suicide silence,abacabb, oh and many others. :)