CD Reviews - Issue 62

STS9
Peaceblaster
1320 Records

You can’t help but like these guys. No, they may not have spikey faux-hawks or wear immense amounts of eye makeup. They don’t prance around on-stage with crumped-out dance routines…they don’t even sing (well maybe a little)… STS9 don’t need any of that commercial propaganda… their music speaks for itself.

Although some have cast the band into that mystical hairy-bushed realm cleverly hidden within the Northwestern festival circuit, there’s no doubt that Sound Tribe Sector 9 are much more than just your average jam band – even on the international level they pack houses with their heavy atmospheric grooves. For years, groups such as the UK’s Ozric Tentacles and Austria’s Dzihan & Kamien have embraced the energy of modern dance, house and jungle music in a live band setting, and with the release of Peaceblaster, Sound Tribe are set to join those ranks. Having delved into everything from Soul to Hip Hop to Jazz on previous releases, their grooves are always funky and unique. Unlike the majority of electronic music, it lacks the repetitiveness found in a programmed loop. The live band atmosphere, though tough to even distinguish at times due to the band’s impeccable timing and synchronicity, adds depth to each track, transcending every piece of music into a tiny soundtrack for life’s journey.


Beck
Modern Guilt
DGC Records

Danger Mouse is like an infection. But not one that’ll scab and puss all over the place, grossing out your little sister - more like one that gives you super-powers...like getting bit by a radioactive spider and suddenly being able to take down unruly foes. That’s right. Beck now has super-powers. I kid you not. It seems that every record the lanky, laid-back Danger Mouse ends up touching becomes a classic, and Beck’s ‘Modern Guilt’ has just outdone them all. My apologies to CeeLo... From minimalistic, yet danceable grooves on tracks such as “Youthless” and “Replica”, to the more catchy, pop feel of the opening track “Orphans”, Modern Guilt is like a breath of fresh air in a world overcast by heavy formulaic rock and over-commercialized rap. Beck has once again outdone himself, and if the MTV generation catches on, there may be hope yet for the future of music...


House of Badger
Death Birds
Independent

What the hell is a House of Badger anyways? I don’t know if I’ve ever heard of one of those. Come to think of it, I don’t think I even know what a badger looks like, let alone the type of dwelling that a badger would reside in. Regardless of the odd name, this Portland trio’s sound, though at times quite minimalist and spacey, is a completely engaging experience. Blending elements of surf to progressive to psychedelic rock, at first I didn’t exactly know what to think of House of Badger, but after hearing the track “Darkness Is Light”, an image of early Jefferson Airplane popped into my head - but with a much more talented and updated Grace Slick. House of Badger’s sound is a unique blend of catchy melodies and experimental guitar riffs…and led by singer/guitarist Amanda Kelly’s smooth yet intoxicating vocals, HOB’s newest release Death Birds is a veritable indie masterpiece.

Comic Book Tattoo - Issue 62

Comic Book Tattoo
Tales Inspired By Tori Amos
Image Comics

“Your big bag of rocks finally got here!” My boss chimes in as he hands me a box weighing slightly more than a small child after a gluttonous day at the fair. I open the box in a wave of excitement as shards of corrugated cardboard and newsprint go flying about my office. And then I see the shiny green cover drawn by Jason Levesque in all its glory... Finally, my very own copy of Tori Amos’ long awaited and much anticipated Comic Book Tattoo, a 480-page anthology of short stories and brief artistic episodes put out by Image Comics based solely on Amos’ immense musical career. Laid out sequentially and including full lyrics to some of Tori Amos’ most memorable recordings, Comic Book Tattoo is the ultimate homage to one of the most prolific songwriters of our time. Each song is reinvented and reinterpreted through full-color illustrations in a way that has never been done before. Featuring Pia Guerra, David Mack, Hope Larson, Ryan Kelly, Jonathan Hickman, Ted McKeever, Jock, Anthony Johnston, Dame Darcy, Carla Speed McNeil, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Mark Buckingham, Ivan Brandon, C. B. Cebulski and many more, the book is even given an introduction by the legendary Neil Gaiman, creator of The Sandman. Filled with art and stories from some of the most brilliant minds in the comic world, even if you’re not a fan of Tori Amos’ music, this book will no doubt entertain you!

Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer - Issue 62

Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer
Trevor Matthews, Robert Englund
Director: Jon Knautz
Brookstreet Pictures/Anchor Bay Ent.

Set to become a new cult classic amongst lovers of the Horror Comedy, Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer delivers a bloody and often hilarious tale of a plumber who’s unknowingly thrown into a world he’d been suppressing since his childhood - a world full of blood-thirsty monsters. Featuring the legendary Robert Englund, best known for his work as Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, who gives a very believable performance as the passionate and often eccentric Professor Crowley and introducing Actor/Producer Trevor Matthews as our wrench-welding hero, this movie is not your average low-budget horror flick. There’s no shortage of fake blood and zombies... And did I mention it was produced by a bunch of crazy Canadians? Capitalizing on the attitude and humor that made Bruce Campbell and the Evil Dead series so popular, Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer manages to entertain from beginning to end. I can’t wait for many sequels to come.

Exclusive SDCC '08 Interview: Joe Hill - Issue 62

Author of one of the hottest comic titles released this year, Locke & Key, Joe Hill is well on his way to making a huge name for himself, not only as a New York Times Best-Selling author, but as one of the most imaginative and creative new writers to embrace the comic genre. And did I mention he’s the spawn of Stephen King? Choosing not to go by his famous literary last name, Joe Hill has successfully broken into literature without the help of his father’s illustrious career, but through his own unique and modern writing style which seems to touch at the very core of human nature. His first sold-out comic series, Locke & Key tells the story of a family thrown into a supernatural web of mysterious locked doors, hidden keys and ghostly apparitions as a haunting family secret is set free to seek revenge. I had the amazing opportunity to chat with Joe for a little while about his jump into the comic world…

What inspired you to start writing for comics?

You know, my very first professional fiction submission was a comic book. In the 80's, they had the Marvel tryout book, which was like half a Spiderman story. And if you were an artist, you were invited to draw the rest, and if you were a scripter, you were invited to write the rest. So I was 12 and I wrote my version of the ending, which got a formal rejection - I don't know why, 'cause I thought it was brilliant. I have something of a comic book imagination; maybe its because so many of my favorite writers work in comics - you know, Alan Moore is one of my favorites. I quote him in the beginning of Heart Shaped Box. Neil Gaiman - I was just crazy for Sandman in high school. One of my very very favorites is Brian K. Vaughn. I think he's the best writer of our generation, you know, it's unbelievable. So I've always had a desire to work in comics. It's something I'd always really wanted to do.

Where did the idea for Locke & Key come from? How did the series come about?

Well, I had put together this book of short stories, and I couldn't sell it in America. I did wind up selling it to a small press in England - this is my first book, 20th Century Ghosts. A lot of people think it's my second book, because it came out second in America, but, you know, it was actually my first box - it came out almost a year ahead of Heart Shaped Box. Around the same time I sold the collection, I also was invited to do a script for Marvel Comics. A talent scout there had spotted me.

That was when you wrote for Spiderman right?

Yeah, Spiderman...it's not a very good one - my Spiderman story was not very good, but writing it got the hooks in me and really made me want to do more. I just thought it was so exciting to think in terms of panels and reveals, you know. And I liked the flow of a comic... So I worked up some pitches for different ideas and I sent them in and they were all turned down. But, one of those was Locke & Key...and it wouldn't really go away. Every couple of months i'd think of a new key or something new I wanted to do with the characters and I had a very clear picture in my head of Bode, who's the youngest of the family’s three kids. I wanted to write about him... And then, Heart Shaped Box came out and did pretty well. The guys at IDW Comics got in touch with me and they said 'you know, we'd really like to take a couple of your short stories and adapt them into comics' and I said 'wait a second. I've got something else for you.' And that's how we wound up doing Locke & Key.

Do you listen to music when you write?

Someone once asked me, 'Did you do a lot of research for Heart Shaped Box?' and I said 'Yeah, I started researching at 14 when I bought Led Zeppelin 3... And I've been researching ever since!' What happens is certain stories get collections of songs around them. And then it's all I listen to when I work on the story - you could probably imagine what kind of music I was listening to when I was writing Heart Shaped Box.

Did you expect Locke & Key to be such a popular series?

No, I didn't expect it. I thought it would be more like the short stories - because Heart Shaped Box came out and did very very well. It was like all my daydreams all at once. You know, before Heart Shaped Box, I had written four novels I was unable to sell and for me it was like every wish coming true all at once. It was awesome...kind of bewildering. I thought, in the immediate aftermath, I need to do something low key and under the radar - something that no one will read. Just something that 9 or 10 people will read, you know, just doing it for me and a few other people as a way to re-center myself...um...to not be an asshole. What I didn't expect was that people really liked the comic and got attached to those characters. So what I guess I'm saying is that I was hoping for a no-pressure experience, but I didn't get it, because now it's important not to screw it up, so...I'll do my best with it. I hope I can pull it off...what If I screw it up though? I don't know...we'll see.

Joe Hill & Artist Gabriel Rodriguez of Locke & Key meet face-to-face for the first time at Comic-Con...

San Diego Comic-Con 2008 - Issue 62

Ah, San Diaaago…the whale’s vagina… After battling through the five hour drive from Santa Cruz to Southern California and somehow surviving the almost three hours of horrendous LA traffic without blowing my brains all over the sun-roof, I made it to San Diego for preview night at Comic-Con International 2008. To my shock and amazement, it seemed as if Preview Night, originally designated as merely an added bonus for professionals and 4 day pass holders, was any indication of the upcoming week’s events, it was set to be one hell of a packed convention hall. The convention center, adorned with booths ranging from the more extravagant and expensive, such as those of Fox, Walt Disney, SciFi Channel and Marvel Comics to the more humbling booths of IDW Publishing, and Image Comics, proved this year’s con had something for everyone…if only it were easier to navigate through the dense crowds… Unfortunately, I managed to miss the majority of my planned activities due to long lines and overcrowding all week... Probably the only time that I didn’t feel the qualms of social anxiety was during my interview with Joe Hill, when we were fortunate enough to find the one deserted, curtained-off area in the entire venue. One thing was very clear walking into the convention center everyday - Movies & TV have taken over. Whereas no more than five years ago, comics were the convention’s main focus, it seems there’s been a shift towards the highest bidder, and unfortunately, though comics are slowly becoming a more accepted art form and gaining popularity amongst young-adults and kids alike, their success is ultimately dwarfed by the mega-millions that Movies & TV continue to rake in. This year, it was more than apparent, and I won’t be surprised if next year we see fewer comic publishers & vendors deciding to make it out to what was once known as the definitive comic book Mecca.

...perhaps the coolest vinyl figure EVER! This is definitely NOT for children!

Jim Mahfood Interview - Issue 61

Jim Mahfood, aka Food One, has been making a living off his drawings and scribblings since 1997, amassing a huge international cult following and a healthy mini-comics collection. Best known for his work with Kevin Smith on the illustrated version of ‘Clerks’, Mahfood’s work has appeared in comics, books, magazines, music videos, skateboard decks, t-shirts, and album covers all over the globe. A popular name at live mural paintings and various DJ/hip hop events around the country, he recently finished a series of cans for Colt 45 and painted up the walls of MTV studios in LA.

What came first for you? The music or the art? Did you go to school for art?

The music came first. My mom always played really good records. That’s what started it for me. I soon discovered drawing after that at a very young age. I’m not a great dj. My little brother, Dan, aka DJ Mahf, he’s the superstar dj in the family. He’s in a group called the Earthworms. They’re amazing. I do all their album covers and art. You can check them out at www.myspace.com/earthworms. I spin records casually at art shows and with my brother, but I can’t mix or scratch well. I went to art school at the Kansas City Art Institute from 1993-97.

Your recent hardcover sketchbook, “Mixtape Vol 1”, is full of music references - compiling stuff you’ve done for album covers, concert fliers and even artist pinups...
What’s your favorite piece in the book? When is Volume 2 coming out?

I don’t have a favorite. All the stuff in there is different and they all have different styles of technique and execution behind them. Mixtape Vol. 2 drops on Sept. 3rd. I just got a copy from the printer and it turned out great! I might have advance copies for sale with me at San Diego Comic Con in July...

How did you hook up with Slug & Murs to work on Felt: the comic? How was the writing process like with those two?

I met Murs years ago when we both lived in Arizona. We’re both comic book nerd/hip hop fanatics. He introduced me to Slug and them around 2002 and the rest is history. I didn’t really write with those guys. They gave me an advance of the Felt 2 album and I listened to it about 300 times and then wrote and drew a comic about it. Those dudes were cool enough to give me creative freedom on it.

Anything new coming out soon or in the near future?

I’m doing a new comic book series called Kick Drum Comix. It’s two issues, they’re all new art and stories in blazing full color! I’m lucky enough to have two colorists, Justin Stewart and Anne Masse, that are working with me to make this stuff look tight as hell. The first issue drops on Sept. 10 and the second is Oct. 29th. It’s the best stuff I’ve ever done. You can see a preview of it at: http://foodoneart.blogspot.com/2008_05_01_archive.html

If you could write or draw a book about anything in the world, what would it be?

I’d like to do a fully illustrated history of funk and hip hop hardcover coffee table book. Maybe Fab 5 Freddy could write it with me or something.

What’s your favorite subject matter to work on? color or b&w?

I guess favorite subject matter is whatever i’m into at the time. Sometimes i like to make comics about music or politics or hot chicks with guns selling weed and blowing shit up. The new stuff, Kick Drum Comix, is all short stories about characters that are all involved with music in one form or another. I’m doing both B&W and color these days. They’re both equally important to me.

Do you see a summer full of Comic-based blockbusters having a positive effect on the comic industry?

No. Movies have no impact on the comics, unfortunately. The masses enjoy spending their money on over the top, big budget summer blockbuster comic book movies, but they don’t go into comic shops. They don’t read for fun or support underground art like comics for the most part.

Do you feel the mainstream population in the US is ready to embrace the comic medium as a legitimate and powerful art-form like they do in other countries?

Not really. There’s too much ignorance and short attention spans here. Comics have the stigma of being kid’s stuff in America and it will probably always remain that way. It’s a bummer, man.

Any plans to release any music? Any mixtapes of the musical variety?

I’m in an experimental group called Sound Proof Closet Noise. You can check out stuff out at: www.myspace.com/soundproofclosetnoise

What do you listen to when you draw? Who are some of your favorite bands/acts right now?

I have thousands of albums so I always listen to a wide variety of stuff. Right now I’m really into anything by Clutchy Hopkins, Shawn Lee, Gary Wilson, I dig that new Santogold album, Budos Band and El Michels Affair are the shit, anything by Sun Ra, Madlib, Jay Dilla, James Pants, Cortex, Atmosphere, the list goes on and on...

Who would be on your ultimate desert island mixtape? And what would it be called?

It would be called, “How to Stay Funky” and feature cuts by James Brown, Parliament, Curtis Mayfield, Funkadelic, Clutchy Hopkins, Gary Wilson, Shawn Lee, Miles Davis, Coltrane, Beasties Boys (Paul’s Boutique), Prince Paul, Madlib, JayDee, David Axelrod, yadda yadda yadda, you know the deal...

A Few Words With JoJo Simmons' Team Blackout - Issue 61

With a legend like Rev Run as your dad, is there any pressure on you to come correct with your lyrics?

JoJo: Of course! It’s cause he’s the King! So now I’ve got to take the throne and make the throne bigger, you know what I’m sayin’? I’ve got to make the name bigger. I’m not afraid. I’m stepping up to the plate and I’m ready to do it.

What’s it like having Rev Run as an Executive Producer? Was he hard on you guys? Who else worked on the production for the album?

JoJo: Basically, he approves and denies the songs for the album, so it wasn’t like a hard thing or whatever, it’s basically in the end whatever he says goes.

Zack: On the album, we worked with Rockwilder and his production team, and we also work with Ron Brown from “J5 on ‘em”.

What new flavor do you feel Team Blackout brings to Hip Hop?

Zack: I think Team Blackout’s gonna’ bring that delicious flavor of fun. We’re gonna’ be bringin’ back the fun into the hip hop and we’re really focusing on the lyrics…you know, we’re still stepping up lyrically, but we’re having fun with it…makin’ records for the girls, for the clubs, the dudes to bump in their whip…we’ve got somethin’ for everybody!

What makes your group stand out above the rest of the acts out there?

Zack: Well, there’s not too many groups out there any more…there’s a lot of solo artists, so as far as hip hop is concerned, but no groups. We’re one of the new groups…something new to see.

What are your intentions with the LP? Is it more than just a straight party album?

Zack: I mean…we have a lot of fun with it. There’s a lot of party tracks on it, but you know, we’ve got some songs that are for the girls…like. We’ve got this song “Gotta Have Her” which is gonna’ be the second single on the album and basically the song is about how the girl looks so good that you just gotta’ have her…you know, we’ve just got different concepts on the album…

How does one ‘J5 on the Beat’ exactly and where’d the dance come from?

Benji: Well, the beat came from Ron Brown’s producing. It just came out of nowhere. Everybody was textin’ us on the Myspace sayin’ that they wanted to hear a J5 song since they’d seen me do the J5 in the pool (on VH1’s Run’s House). We just put it out there for the people to enjoy it. It’s not going to be an official single, but we have a buzz track out right now called “Lights Down Low” so you should check it out…

JoJo: Tell ‘em how you came up with it…

Benji: Oh yeah, yeah… It was crazy. Jo was actually doing a Run’s House scene and me and
Zack were just chillin’…We had nothing to do so we just did the dance out of nowhere and it’s crazy cause JoJo’s dad saw me doin’ it and then in the studio he called me out and said ‘hey, I’ve seen you do your dance…’ Then he said I’ve got to do it in the pool, so just did it for them. But before that, I would show Zack & JoJo my dance first and we were just laughin’ and buggin’ at it…we weren’t even takin’ it seriously, we were just doin’ it for the fun of it, out of nowhere. It’s crazy how the littlest things come out, though…

Who are some of your favorite acts out there right now?

JoJo: Um, definitely, my favorite rapper is Fabolous and I’m definitely feelin’ Lil’ Wayne right now…Jay Z…I’m a big Dipset fan – that whole crew…those are my influences right there.

Zack: My major influences right now I would say, would be Nas, I’m feelin’ Lil’ Wayne a lot, I’m likin’ The Cardiff Three…JaRule. I’m a big fan of JaRule…he was one of the first artists I was listening to when I was young. Also, Jay Z and Kanye West…

Benji: Nas, 50, Lil’ Wayne’s doin’ his thing right now, he’s killin’ it, as you can see…

What are your plans once the album’s released? Any tour plans?

JoJo: I mean, if the song blows up, then yeah, we’re out there.

Zack: We’ve also got the K1X promotional tour comin’ -

JoJo: - yeah, yeah…

Zack: It’s this new clothing line, K1X, that we’ve got an endorsement with…we’re about to be doin’ a 12 city tour with them goin’ all around the world to Foot Lockers promoting the clothing line and sneakers. It’s crazy…definitely a blessing…

Featured Album Review - Issue 61

The Wanteds - Failure Looks So Good
Self Released

Like a glimpse back into the indie scene that built the Grunge sound, this Portland trio’s new album had me from track one. Combining gritty yet catchy hooks, loud guitars, dissonant solos and driving drum lines, The Wanteds remind me of the music from my teenage years that inspired me to get out and pick up the guitar. With a sound reminiscent of more well known bands like Mudhoney and Superchunk to West Coast indie bands such as Overwhelming Colorfast and American Sensei, The Wanteds’ sound is huge.
Having overcome a drug addiction and been reborn through the birth of his son, frontman Tommy Harrington has been through a lot in his tumultuous career. And having started The Wanteds as a one-man band, I think he’s finally found the right group of people to help him get his voice heard. Perhaps his entire journey can be summed up in the band’s name:
“On some level” Harrington says, “we all walk through life with a basic desire to be wanted.”

Blag Dahlia of The Dwarves - Issue 60

So...what have all you been up to the past few years? Haven't heard much album-wise from The Dwarves since "The Dwarves Must Die"... Are there plans for another album or did the title track basically say it all?

I’m glad you asked that. We have, in fact, died. I’m writing this in a fit of prognostication years before you even wrote to me.
As luck would have it, the Dwarves Lost Albums are now starting to emerge. Stuff deemed too bizarre when first conceived is now understandable by even our most retarded fans. We shall return!

The Dwarves are well known for their savage live shows... are there any plans to tour in the states anytime soon?

Look for East Coast and Mid West dates for Fall in the US and some Europe in the summer.

Though the original Dwarves sound was almost 100% raw punk rock, your sound has evolved and become a much more mature and distinct one all your own... How would you describe The Dwarves' sound today?

If the best punk band suddenly got talented, it would be us. All genres styles and flavors represented. Legends!

Who were some of your influences in the music world? What originally made you want to go out and rock a stage?

Vagina in all its many forms. Little pink ones with an absence of hair.

Tell me a little about your book. When did you decide to get into writing books?

My last novel was “Nina”, the story of a young girl and all the dirty things she does. I like novels because unlike music, people who are retarded really can’t appreciate them. Reading is fundamental!

Any future plans for you outside the band? How about a solo album? ...And what would it sound like?

Attached is a mix from something new by me and some friends. It isn’t Dwarves and it isn’t exactly Blag either. It’s classic so watch out for it!

John 5 Interview - Issue 60

John 5 started playing guitar at the age of seven, inspired by the Saturday morning TV show Hee Haw: “I didn’t know any... musical genres. I was just in awe of the players”. His parents were supportive of his learning and permitted him to play in bars and clubs on the condition that he kept his grades up.

Aged 18, John moved to California to pursue a career as a professional session guitarist. In 1998, after narrowly missing out on an audition 2 years prior, John was asked to lunch by Marilyn Manson: “he asked me to join the band – right there”. The name John 5 bestowed on him that day, John joined Manson et al, for the Rock is Dead tour. Following the tragic events of April 1999 at Columbine High School, the group began work on “Holywood: In The Shadow of the Valley of Death”, an angry response to the media witch-hunt the band suffered, and was the first album John wrote on. In 2004, John 5 and Marilyn Manson parted company. “I had a great run with Marilyn Manson. It was a lot of fun [but now] I’m busier...than I was on tour”.

Work began in earnest on ‘Vertigo’, a deeply autobiographical album pulled from turbulent personal memories on the last Manson tour. Following the album’s release, John began working with cult rock artist and movie director, Rob Zombie, joining him for 2005’s Ozzfest tour: “[I] never thought I would have the chance to share the stage with him playing the Zombie songs we all know and love”.

Later that year, John released ‘Songs For Sanity’, a second solo album, grittier than the first: Guesting on the album were Steve Vai and Albert Lee. After touring for almost a year in support of Rob Zombie’s ‘Educated Horses’, John took time out to work on his third solo album. ‘Devil Knows My Name’ saw contributions from Joe Satriani and Jim Root. It also won him an accolade for Best Shred Album from Guitarworld.com.

– adapted from John 5’s bio at www.john-5.com

With the release of his fourth album, “Requiem”, one of the most unique and diverse guitar players on the planet today brings his most recent opus of hard-riffed jams and screaming solos - The kind of solos that make you wonder if he’s got a few extra sets of fingers to help him out. John 5 may very well be from another planet altogether as tracks like “The Judas Cradle” and “Requiem” seem to have been created for the listening pleasure of beings from other worlds. With an obvious affinity for the southern twang, his distinct brand of brutal head-banging shreddery would make any Guitar Center wannabe quiver with fear. Well rounded and constantly evolving, there’s no question as to why John 5 remains an icon in the eyes of guitarists worldwide…

Your guitar style is so diverse and unique...How would you describe your sound?

I enjoy playing different styles and try to incorporate different music such as country, classical, and western swing and try to incorporate that into rock music.

How is this release different from “Songs For Sanity”? How do you compose your songs?

I believe that this is a lot more intense than my other cds. When I was on tour with Rob Zombie, I would travel with a mini recorder and metronome. I would just work on the record during the day and during soundcheck before the show. Most of the records were done after midnight and in the middle of the night.

Who are some of your influences as a guitar player?

Jimi Hendrix at age 7, Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, Paul Gilbert amongst many others.

Do you play any other instruments other than guitar?

I mainly concentrate on guitar, but I play bass guitar, some banjo, and basically a little bit of everything.

Where did that Honky-Tonk speed picking sound heard on “Pity Belt” and Songs For Sanity’s “Gein With Envy” come from?

That’s from my background. I love country pickers, and I love learning different styles like bluegrass, country and players such as Albert Lee and Chet Atkins.

Do you see yourself ever releasing a non-metal album?

I was thinking about doing more of a mellow album to change it up a little bit. So yes, maybe something like that in the near future.

What would you tell a person that wants to learn to shred like you? How does one get so damn good?

I would tell them to stay focused and try to learn something new at least once a week. Don’t try to be super fast right away, just take it slow and go at your own pace. It takes a lot of years and dedication.

Who would you be most excited to tour with?

I’ve always been into The Beatles and it would be a true honor to play with Paul McCartney. I set a really high goal for myself to do that.

CD Reviews - Issue 60

The Ocean
Precambrian
Metal Blade

Through a seamless progression of moods and aural landscapes, The Ocean’s newest release, Precambrian, is a far cry from most Metal albums released today. It’s been a minute since I’ve been able to listen to an album start to finish without having to skip a track…let alone a Hardcore album… A veritable “Dark Side of The Moon” for the Metalcore world, Precambrian delivers a unique mixture of sporadic symphonic arrangements with tasteful pinches of electronic wizardry. These elevations in mood and dynamics provide the perfect texture for the band’s signature brutal chord progressions and savage vocal prowess. One of the most infectious Hardcore releases in recent years, this album may even turn the most unlikely of listeners into believers.


Alabama 3
Hits & Exit Wounds
One Little Indian

Hailing from the success of their hit “Woke Up This Morning”, which landed itself as the theme to HBO’s groundbreaking show ‘The Sopranos’, Alabama 3’s ‘Hits & Exit Wounds’ proves them to be much more than just a one trick pony. With a unique southern flavored groove, apparent on “Hello…I’m Johnny Cash”, an obvious tribute to the Man in Black, it’s dance music to combat dance music. And that’s no more blatantly expressed than on tracks such as “U Don’t Danse To Tekno Anymore” & “Ain’t Goin’ To Goa”. That’s not to say that Alabama 3 don’t incorporate electronic rhythms…they do. They just do it with class.


Raashan Ahmad
The Push
Om Records

From Crown City Rockers' MC Raashan Ahmad comes a positive hip hop album with more soul than a Texas Buffet… The Push, Raashan’s debut release on Om records conveys his ever-positive outlook on the hip hop culture and life as we know it. The Push proves that Raashan can hold his own when it comes to putting out music…full band or not! Tracks like “Weight” and “City Feel Proud” (which features J5’s Chali 2na) are laden with glimpses of wisdom straight from the mind of the Bay Area’s hip hop movement. You won’t find any ‘rims’ or ‘ice’ or ‘gangsta’ shit on this record…just some good old fashioned, down-home funk and soul with a little B-Boy style. I looooove being a B-Booooooooy!


Slightly Stoopid
Slightly Not Stoned Enough To Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid
Stoopid Records/MRI

The culmination of years of bong smoke and an undying desire for regurgitated Reggae bass lines & Sublime albums, Slightly Stoopid’s collection of “Outtakes, Rarities and a Couple New Joints” fails to impress. With a lack of originality, every song has that “I’ve heard it before” feeling. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, but I’m not getting it. With all the publicity these guys are getting on the road with acts like Pepper and Ozomatli, whom respectively employ some truly incredible musicianship, I’m surprised that Slightly Stoopid has even been able to keep up with their own hype. This album is less than forgettable. I think I’ll just keep ignoring it until it goes away.

Featured Album Review - Issue 59

Atmosphere
When Life Gives You Lemons...You Paint That Shit Gold
Rhymesayers Entertainment

What can I say about Atmosphere's newest release that isn't already a given? Slug is a dope MC. Impeccable storytelling style and top-notch production make "If Life Gives You Lemons..." one of this year's best. True to Slug's sound, Atmosphere's new album unveils brutal realities within the human race and lays them out on the table for your dissection. Incorporating more live instrumentation than previous releases, the Atmosphere sound has become much more intelligent and diverse, whether the track is comprised of merely a guitar and Slug's words, as in "Guarantees" or the smooth head-bobbing funk of "You". I've got to say... I have yet to be disappointed by these Minnesotans. Every album is a classic.

Dave Crosland Interview - Issue 59

When did you decide art was your calling? Did you go to school for it?

I've been drawing since I was a little kid. I have a Polaroid of myself at two-years-old, using one of my dad's draftsman pencils. But I made the big "this will be my life's pursuit" decision my junior year of high school, after I saw The Lion King. I watched the opening and was like, "I could do that!" Shortly after that, I started looking into art schools for college. I ended up attending The Columbus College of Art and Design, and graduated with a BFA degree in 2000. It's funny, because I was all set to go into the sciences. I was a chemical technology major in high school. I even worked in a university lab one summer. But when it came down to it, I liked science and was good at it. But I LOVED making art.

Who are some of your influences in the art world?

My influences range from friends like Jim Mahfood and Mike Huddleston, and extend to folks like Brian Froud, Ralph Steadman, Basquiat, and J.C. Leyendecker. But I'm also heavily influenced by filmmakers, like George Lucas, Quentin Tarentino, Hitchcock... the list could go on forever. Basically, anything visual or musical that's been a part of my life, from Sesame Street until today, is on my list of influences.

How did you get started in comics?

I self-published the first issue of my minicomic, "Slop," Kinko's-style in 2000, and kept the series running with a new book each comic convention season. I would set up at conventions and sell Slop, along with any other art merch I could muster. And at a 2002 convention in Chicago, I met this writer named John Layman. He dug my art and I liked his idea for a comic called "Puffed." It's a story about a theme park employee who's trapped in a dragon costume... very twisted, quirky stuff. So I designed the characters, drew a few pages from the script, and we pitched it around to various publishers. Thanks to some friendly backing from colleagues and the keen insight of Jim Valentino, "Puffed" got picked up by Image Comics. So by 2003, my first professional comics work hit shops. And I haven't looked back, since.

How's the response for Everybody's Dead been? How far do you expect the series to continue? or is it planned as a mini?

So far, so good! I've gotten positive feedback from friends, fans, and strangers, alike. And it's felt great to have a book out in stores, again, after taking a break from comics in 2007. While writer Brian Lynch and I would like Everybody's Dead to go on into a sequel, we're sticking with a five issue mini-series, for now. I think anything beyond that will depend on the success of the first series.

Would you say that comics are making a comeback?

I wouldn't call it a comeback because comics and graphic novels have always had a strong following. Especially overseas. I just think more mainstream folks in the USA (and in our entertainment industry, in particular) are finally starting to realize the power of the comics medium. From book reviews in The New Yorker to comics-to-film Hollywood blockbusters, people are appreciating the incredible range of imagination captured in comic books. They're seeing them as a source of badass storytelling with solid characters, and that's great.

What's your favorite subject to work on?

With most of the books you've drawn, there's been a hint of humor that your style adds to the story. Do you ever see yourself doing a more serious book? Generally, I just enjoy working on stories with interesting characters. The humorous tint on my releases has a lot to do with me working on scripts by comedy writers. Now that I'm finally giving my own stories time and attention, I think you'll see a wider tonal range in my comic work. I have a lot of story concepts in my bag of tricks, and some of them are pretty serious. One of them is downright dark. Of course, I'll temper my serious subject matter with brief moments of comedy. That's just life... even in the worst situations, people can find a reason to laugh. It's like our pressure relief valve. Touches of humor in a harsh story help give the tale more humanity.
How much of a role does music play in your artwork? Who are some of your favorite bands?

Music plays a huge role in my artwork! When I play music while I work, it ends up becoming the soundtrack for what I'm drawing or painting. So I try to put on tunes that sync up with the mood of the art, or that energize my imagination. I'm into too many bands to name absolute favorites. But some of my top work-to-this musicians are Edan, The Mars Volta, Mike Patton, Rza, Gza, Led Zeppelin, John Williams, Dose One and Jel, Murs, Cansei De Ser Sexy, Busdriver, Subtitle, Madlib, MF DOOM, and Gary Wilson, to name a few.

Any plans for future projects? Do you see yourself doing another book with Mahfood? Or maybe your own story?

I'd love to work with Mahfood on something else. Though, we'd probably do a two-man gallery show rather than a comic book. As for my own projects, I'm narrowing down my comic concepts and picking one to run with for a 2009 release. Right now, I'm leaning toward the first part of a space opera epic that's got me really excited. It's practically writing itself. Beyond that, I'll just be doing my normal thing... makin' pictures and rankin' on cornballs...

The Grouch Interview - Issue 58

So how's the tour going?

Right now I'm on the Living Legends Spring Tour. We're five shows deep and they've all been sold out. We play the South By Southwest Music Conference tonight. I think our fans are really excited about the new Legends EP "The Gathering" as well as my album.

Your new record 'Show You The World' drops May 20th... Well polished and cohesive from start to finish the album is one of my favorites of yours to date... How do you feel it compares to your previous solo releases?

Thank you, I'd have to agree with you. I think it's probably my best solo work this far but it's different form the others. I know more now. But I'd say F*ck The Dumb is more raw. The rhyme patterns on this one are definitely put together better. It's hard to say though. It's like asking a mother who her favorite child is.

Your daughter gets to open up the starting track to 'Show You The World'... How much of a part did fatherhood have to do with this album?

My daughter inspires me to be a better person. Sometimes I might go to write some stupid shit and think, how could I explain that to her? I also think that just being around her helps me to be a more creative person. I used her on the cover and on the intro but the album is not really about Rio. It's not a concept album. I did record a couple of verses with her asleep on my shoulder!

Do you see a difference in the CA hip hop scene since you first became a 'Legend'? Do you feel there any issues holding the scene back?

There are differences but I'm not worried about "the scene". There are a lot more avenues out there now to get yourself heard than before. As a man with many responsibilities, all I can do is concentrate on doing what I do as well as I can. The bottom line is that if your material is dope then people are going to like it.

Are there any plans for another collaboration with Zion I? or anyone else?

Definitely, we haven't officially started yet but another Zion I and The Grouch album is in the works for sure. Eligh and I are almost finished with a new one. Daddy Kev and I need to talk about some new stuff. I've got a few other ideas...

Ok...so I have to ask...what is hyphy? Why did it almost become a mainstream disaster?

I'm not an authority on what hyphy is. What I like most about what I think it is is the music. I'm a music lover. Fashion and partying and anything else is secondary to me.
I like the stripped down uptempo 808 tracks with bay area rappers over them. The biggest disaster as far as hyphy goes to me has to be the death of Mac Dre.

Since you're basically at the heart of the West Coast scene right now, where do you think it's headed? Are there any new groups coming out right now that you're diggin'?

There is always good music to be found out there, I'm feeling a lot of Edit's stuff and a group called Brother Reade. My boy Marty James and One Block Radius, Gaslamp Killer and Gonjasufi are ridiculous with it (my folks holler if you see this!)

Ben Templesmith Interview - Issue 58

How did you develop your style? Did you go to school for art?

It was a case, as it usually goes, of one part happy accident, one part deadline pressure/efficiency issues, and the final ingredient, idol worship of the artists I admire and tried to learn via the work I grew up on and admired most.
No art school for me. I went to design school, though I did major in Illustration, it was mostly about the commercial reality side of things rather than honing artistic skills there. They taught me a love of Macs and photoshop however, and that will never change.

Who were some of your influences as an artist?

This one is easy. Ashley Wood, Kent Williams, Victor Ambrus, Ralph Steadman...and countless others.

What made you decide to start working in comics and graphic novels?

I received a vision from a being, claiming to be the Assyrian god "Marduk" (I guess all the current religions are wrong then!) who told me I should spend all my time trying to do them, as it pleased him and I'd receive magical gifts.
So far I've been published, but still looking for these magical godly rewards. I just hope it involves supermodels at some point. Who knows? Actually, I basically just do them because I love the medium, and they're effectively cheap movies, just on paper... and have next to zero interference in the creative process, unlike movies, games and other creative endeavors. I get pretty much free reign. I love that.

I hear Australia's pretty nice...what made you decide to move to the states? Do you feel that your recent move will have any effect on your artwork?

Australia IS nice. Especially if you like things like the weather, decent public health care, education and standards of living, and generally friendly people who love a drink. I come from the most isolated capitol city in the world though. Perth. Long way from anywhere... and the cost of living there just trebled thanks to our mining boom (we sell all our high priced dirt & minerals to China) and so it worked out that I may as well move to the US for awhile, actually be in the same room as the people I work with and soak up the great Cali culture of the arts which I kind of want to get involved with. It sure beats being 16 hours in the future and living with perpetual jetlag by working the nightshift at times.
Don't think it'll have any effect on the art...besides a positive one really, considering I may be able to get different art supplies here than in Perth, which may have been a bit more limited.

How does it feel to finally release Dead Space? I know it's been in the works for quite some time now... Has the response been good as far as you can tell?

Honestly I'm well beyond the days of eager anticipation before a comic comes out. (Except maybe unless I'm writing it as well!) I've done enough now, so it's all kind of an old hat in that respect. There's also a huge disconnect between when you work on the book and when it actually comes out; Months and months in between sometimes. I also don't go to the stores much, so I don't even see things on shelves often! I just see people at cons and hopefully they dig the books. And yes, thus far the response has been great.

Do you see the Dead Space series continuing after the release of the video game? Who came up with the concept for the story?

You'd be surprised what's planned for 'Dead Space'! Of course, I can't talk about it all, it's not my place...but there'll be more than just a comic and a game, it's really a big launch. I'd love to see the whole thing continue (story-wise) if the success grants it of course. I can't claim any credit for the actual story, I'm really on the book just to flesh out the universe a little visually myself and bring the comic aspect to life. It's actually an EA property, so a few super creative folks over there came up with the whole initial concept and such and we're working in collaboration with them. Antony Johnston as writer is far more involved in the story than I am of course.

What's your favorite subject matter to work on? What's been your favorite project thus far?

People think of me as a horror guy, but I'm effectively a sci-fi guy... it's just the darker stuff that really gets me. Which is a big reason I put my hand up for 'Dead Space', when EA offered me the gig. I love things like 'The Thing', 'Aliens', 'Event Horizon' and 'Dark City'. I'm not one for slasher films or torture porn. I need the fantasy/dark futuristic/alien type stuff. So far my favorite project, to be brutally honest, is still my ongoing personal project 'Wormwood Gentleman Corpse', which is a riff on old BBC sci-fi shows like Dr Who, coupled with my warped sense of quirk and lots of demons...and taking the piss out of it all. I do a miniseries of it in my spare time...except I basically have none.

Where did the idea for Wormwood come from? Do you see yourself continuing it beyond the current four part series 'Calamari Rising'?

Oh sure I do. It's my guilty pleasure. I fit it in when I can. I'm probably looking at doing some other projects I have lined up once the current miniseries 'Calamari Rising' is done, but I have a ton of stories planned for the future, when IDW Publishing, (who print and put the book out) and I can fit them into the schedule. At least one mini a year is my goal. Soon there'll be three TPB's worth of the stuff out there...which is a nice chunk for such a personal cult project I think considering many creator initiated projects sometimes don't even make it past a couple issues (historically speaking).

Ok, so as this is a music magazine, I have to ask...what type of music do you listen to? Do you listen to music when you draw? Who are some of your favorite bands?

Right now I alternate from some moody movie score music from stuff like Batman Begins, Gladiator, that sort of stuff, and Radiohead, Sigur Ros, Aphex Twin, NIN...but sometimes it just depends on the work and the mood. Those are the core sounds though. A huge favorite of mine however is an Aussie band called Regurgitator...and another called TISM (This Is Serious Mum). They can do some pretty hard stuff, but maintain an air of "piss take" with their lyrics at times.

Do you have any other projects planned beyond Fell, Wormwood & Dead Space? Red Snow kicked ass...You think you'll do another mini for the 30 Days of Night series?

There are lots. I'm at a point literally right now where I'm picking and choosing from lists of cool things, as well as working on a bunch of my own projects that I'm not ready to talk about yet. But no, I don't think I'll be doing another '30 Days of Night' miniseries. Red Snow, which I wrote and drew was to be my last comment on that property, for quite some time. There should be more 'Wormwood' sporadically between the other stuff I've got coming though. It's a case of too many stories and never enough time with that one.

Comic & Graphic Novel Reviews

Sentences: The Life of MF Grimm
Vertigo Comics
w. Percy Carey
a. Ronald Wimberley

You may not be familiar with his music, but you've heard the name. Who is MF Grimm? Well, let's just say that without this man's poetic mind, many of your favorite rappers would still be living at home with their mothers. 'Sentences' is an enthralling autobiographical account of Percy Carey a.k.a. MF Grimm's rise to fame and the struggles he faced constantly being pulled into the world of gang violence. Honestly, I couldn't put this book down until I was finished. It's hip hop history at its rawest; from the days of the DJs and body-rockin' to the rise of the MC and the 'gangsta' movement.

Everybody's Dead
IDW Comics
w. Brian Lynch
a. Dave Crosland

David Crosland of 'Scarface: Scarred For Life' fame once again teams up with IDW to illustrate this zany Animal House meets The Living Dead type thriller. It's Halloween and the Beta Eta Delta house (formerly Omega House) is throwing the craziest costume party ever. After altercations with the beefcake Omega fraternity demanding their house back simmer down, all seems ok... But what happens when everyone's asleep will change their lives forever. Overall a fun read, this book brings some much needed humor into the current Zombie craze. I can't wait to see where they go with the rest of the story.

The Boys
Dynamite Comics
w. Garth Ennis
a. Darick Robertson

America's favorite superheroes are corrupt. Less and less concerned about the safety of the people and more worried about how they look on camera, they've gotten sloppy with their arrogance. So, how do you defend the world against the world's greatest defenders? And who could possibly be crazy enough to go up against these superheroes? One of the most brutal and raunchy books on the shelves right now, Garth Ennis' 'The Boys' spits on the idea that superheroes are flawless and throws them into a harsh reality full of corrupt business practices and sexual deviance. Perfect.

Chumble Spuzz
Slave Labor
by Ethan Nicole

If the Devil himself were to posess anything in the world, it'd probably be a pig. Better yet, a prize pig at a local carnival. Or at least that's the way writer and artist Ethan Nicole sees it in his psychoticaly hilarious and hard to put down new book 'Chumble Spuzz.' After winning a posessed pig at a carnival the two unlikeliest of heroes, Gunther and Klem team up with the trigger-happy duo of General Woodchuck and Kernal Corn Nut as well as the eccentric and evangelistic Reverand Mofo as they venture to hell to kill the devil. This has got to be one of the funniest books I've read in a long time.

CD Reviews - Issue 58

Cava Menzies
Give In Let Go
Cava Music Group

With a sound reminiscent of vocalists such as Goapele & Esthero, Cava Menzies weaves her rich blend of soul, jazz, rock and hip hop with top-notch production on her debut Give In Let Go. Featuring MCs Zion & D.U.S.T., this album plays to the heartbeat of the Bay Area neo-soul sound. The album's deep, relaxed grooves and expert instrumentation make you want to just kick back, close your eyes and listen.

Myself
Protest In Disguise
Couture Music Wear

Mashing up genres like it's nobody's business, this New York by New Orleans native is set to break down all the walls that stereotyping builds. He's tall, lanky and has some serious dreads, but you won't hear a whole lot of reggae on his debut album Protest In Disguise. Backed by a versatile band with styles ranging from ska to punk to hip hop, Myself isn't out there to catagorize himself into any genre. "It's definitely a mixture...it's like Gumbo. A little bit of this, a little bit of that..."

The Grouch
Show You The World
Legendary Music

His first solo release in more than five years, The Grouch refines his gift with Show You The World. It's the familiar Grouch attitude, just polished up all shiny. One thing that's certain throughout the album is his daughter's influence. With an overall sense of optimism in his words, unlike previous releases that favored a darker social commentary, still keeps to The Grouch's distinct brand wit and angst. With guest features such as Murs and One Block Radius' Marty James, this is by far my favorite of The Grouch's albums to date...not to mention one of the best hip hop releases in the past couple years.

Knobody
The Clean Up
Heiroglyphics
As the newest member of the Hiero crew, Oakland's Knobody has some big shoes to fill. Luckily he's shining the tips on his 10 & 1/2's and is about to 'give the industry a good swift kick in the ass.' His rhyme schemes are immaculate with instant classics like "Supa" and "Oh My Job". Well on his way to becoming your favorite underground MC, Knobody's been running the streets hustling his music for almost 10 years - finally breaking through in 2007 with a full length in stores. He's ready to take over the nation's eardrums, 'hustling for purpose!' I'm telling you, if you sleep on this record, you'll be bummed...so go get it!!

The official SECOND posting.

Times are crazy over here at Your Music Magazine. For one, you may have noticed the "Sierra Nevada Brewing Co." logo that's been gracing our covers...well, they're now Your Music Magazine's Official Sponsor, so go out and support by gettin' wasted off their beer...i kid...drink responsibly, people...
Secondly, last month, YMM's new website experienced a record 20,000 unique hits. That's a huge climb from the months previous and we're expected to reach at least 250,000 hits a month by the end of the year...like I said...these are exciting times here at YMM!!
Also, I've started up a section dedicated to Comics & Graphic Novels which includes Reviews & Interviews with Artists & Writers. Issue 58 featured cover art and an interview with 30 Days Of Night artist Ben Templesmith. This month, Issue 59, it's an interview with Dave Crosland, artist for books such as Scarface, Everybody's Dead and Puffed.

Welcome To The Fresh Organic!!

Welcome To My Blog!!!!
Ok, so I can't believe it either...I have stepped into the digital realm of journalism...
Hopefully this will be a better way to provide you with my most recent reviews & interviews...as well as a healthy dose of daily rantings!!!

On that note, I leave you with a shot of me at my old job:

Probably the toughest job of my life... But the views were amazing!!