5/28/09

Black Sabbath - Paranoid - 1970

can't upload

Unfortunately the site has taken down my previous post of this album
and sent me a warning telling me not to do it again. So, sorry guys,
if you want this one, you'll have to look elsewhere, but trust me,
with as great and famous as this one is, that should be no problem.
Even if I fail, the ideals and benefits of new age piracy shall live on!
I have also decided that whenever I get a new band together,
all of our music will always be free. Sure, to make enough money
to live off of it, we'd have to constantly be gigging and sell a lot of
merchandise and really, really cool album covers, but really,
all of those are things I enjoy anyway and I just want enough cash
to live, so there's no real draw backs.

Anyway, I'm not making this post to rant or anything like that,
no, I'm just not really in the ranting mood today. No, I'm making
this post because even though I can't upload this album,
I know a bunch of other people will and I love this album so much
that I figured I could still at least make a small review about it.
But, since I had already written a review about it(twice I believe),
I'm going to make it short and just say that it's one of the best
albums ever created and whether you buy or download it,
you should really just get your hands on it if you haven't already!

5/14/09

Insanity: An Artist's Most Beloved Weapon

I have always had at least a slight obsession with both insanity and spirals and over the years it has grown. Yes, the solitude has helped me understand insanity a lot better, but, although I might have been at several points, I honestly don't believe I am insane. Or at least not completely. What I have come to understand is that despite what most people seem to think, insanity doesn't necessarily have anything to do with a loss of self-control or any such thing like it. Insanity is just thinking and seeing this realm differently from the majority, so in truth, in order to truly prosper, we must all be at least a little insane. Still, too much of anything is never completely a good thing. Without any grip on some form of commonly agreed upon sanity, we would have very little, if any, connection with one another and advances in this realm would become all but hopeless. Many, myself included, would debate that achievements in this reality are meaningless, but at the same time even I am curious to test the boundaries of this world and see how far we can bend every last law of physics and rule of logic and without the aid of one another, these boundaries will go almost completely untested. Still, my obsession with insanity forces me to admire those who are seemingly completely insane and detached the world we know. Their bodies live and brains function, but their minds are on a completely new level all on its own leaving the body to wonder through our version of sanity in utter confusion. Whenever someone like this is brought to my attention, I can't help but become overcome with thoughts desperately trying to grasps theirs despite how futile I know my attempts are. Still, it's a challenge and all challenges offer some form of reward.

As for spirals, I have come to the conclusion that their a perfect symbolic representation of the mind being driven to insanity during those moments when you can actually feel your thoughts changing and turning towards a new direction, so in a way, my co-obsession with them is only natural. Spirals and insanity are one in the same.

Furthermore, as for insanity being an artist's weapon, well, that should already be pretty obvious. Art, regardless of form, is always self-expression. If you create something that is not honestly expressing how you feel or think about anything, then it is, no matter how perfect, not truly art. Sanity is the turning away from true expression and stepping into conformity, so without insanity there would be no true art.

To sum things up, although too much of it will leave you detached from this realm, insanity still brings lots of benefits, so if we want to advance in this world as much as possible, we must learn to find an even ground between both the concepts of sanity and insanity. But, remember, over time the standards for sanity will change in every way. What is considered insane now will eventually switch places with sanity just like it's done before and it will continue to do so until the end of time because in the end, sanity is really just a fictional human concept designed to point out people who don't quite fit in with the current idea of normality. Eventually, the whole concept will all come crashing down and the terms and ideas involved will be forgotten, but until that day comes, we should still work with both sides of the coin.

Thank you anyone who actually read all of this
and as always, feel free to add to this.

Pink Floyd - A Saucerful Of Secrets - 1968


If it isn't already obvious,
I'm in love with the works of Syd Barrett!
Although this was only Pink Floyd's second album,
it was sadly also the last official studio album
of theirs to feature Syd. Apparently, his heavy drug use
had finally started to take a toll on his mental state
and the life of a rock star only worsened things even more,
so he made the decision to leave the band.
But, as sad and regretful as that is, his spiral down
into insanity did lead to a very odd, yet brilliant in every way,
album that is loved by almost every psych-head who's ever heard it!
The only real complaints I've heard about this album
from those who know how to appreciate the good in insanity
is that it isn't as "raw" as the first album and although that
is true, all that really means is that it's less of an actual
'rock' album and more of a musical theme for both
a trip into insanity and... "other" trips as well!
Though, like all the best psych albums,
it makes it possible to "trip out" with any
other external help needed.

In truth, its kind of a short album,
but after the instrumental journey the twelve minute
long title track takes you on and the psychedelic genius
of the other six tracks, you'll have to agree to that this album
is nothing short of a psych masterpiece! But to me, even outside
the realm of psych music, it should still be considered a masterpiece!
I mean, in parts of this album, there are clear classical influences.
Sure, anyone, with the right instruments, can make something sound
somewhat classical, but few people can pull it off this well while still
containing a solid psychedelic vibe of pure melancholy insanity.
Over all, it's a beautiful album with a sound like no other.


Track Listing

1. Let There Be More Light - 5:39

2. Remember A Day - 4:33

3. Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun - 5:27

4. Corporal Clegg - 4:12

5. A Saucerful Of Secrets - 12:00

6. See-Saw - 4:37

7. Jugband Blues - 3:00

So sorry for the long absence...

I felt that too much time on the Internet was starting to effect my mind, so I decided to take a short break from it. It went on longer than expected, but hopefully it wasn't too long. Still, my apologies for the few of you who do frequent this blog and you have my appreciation if any of you have continued to check back every so often in hopes of an update. For those of you curious about what I have been up to, it's been mostly drawing and reading with intense meditation and occasional solo bass jams. I will return to the uploads and whatnot and although I cannot make any promises about their frequencies, I can make the promise that they will never come to a complete stop. If that were to ever happen, then it'd mean that I ran out of music and I doubt that'll happen any time soon, so there's no need to worry! Now if you'll excuse me, I need to start work on the next upload.

Thank you for your time.
-Chase The Drummer