Soundtrack for 04/25 -- 04/29.

04/25 – 04/29:

Head Automatica, Decadence
The deut record from Glassjaw frontman Daryl Palumbo's side project with Dan the Automator couldn't have been more different than the band that made him... well, somewhat famous, I guess. But there's certainly nothing wrong with that, as it remains a vital serving of super-catchy dance rock music.

Head Automatica, "Beating Heart Baby"

Skyzoo, Live From the Tape Deck

Last year's outing from Skyzoo, his 3rd official album not counting a slew of mixtapes (Is that line even worth drawing anymore?) is still most welcome on my iPod.

Skyzoo, "Speakers On Blast"


Bob Dylan, Bringing It All Back Home
If I absolutely had to pick a favorite Dylan album... I guess it'd be Blonde on Blonde. If I had to pick a second favorite, though... it might be Desire, actually. But if I had to pick a third, yeah man, Bringing It All Back Home. I think this is the first one I ever got when I first began getting into Dylan, but I was accumulating his stuff so quickly it's hard to remember.

Bob Dylan, "Subterranean Homesick Blues"


Gang Starr, Step Into the Arena
The legendary second album, the one where they truly found their sound and style. Wall-to-wall classics.

Gang Starr, "Check The Technique"


TV On the Radio, Nine Types of Light
I was very sad to learn of the death of TVOTR bassist Gerard Smith. TV on the Radio is still a relatively young band, but they've never made an album I didn't love, and it's a shame that he won't be a part of their continued evolution. Nine Types of Light wasn't what I expected on first listen, but it only took two listens for me to fall completely in love with it.

TV On the Radio, "Will Do"


Gojira, The Way of All Flesh
The French metal band stretched in a few new directions on this one, all to great success as far as I'm concerned, perhaps most drastically on the song below. Their concern and outrage over environmental issues has never been delivered so bluntly.

Gojira, "Toxic Garbage Island"


Protest the Hero, Scurrilous
The third album by the Canadian prog-metal group leans heavier on the prog side than they have to date, which is odd since it's also their first with no trace of a concept. It also features the first set of lyrics penned by singer Rody Walker. Not my favorite of their albums, but still plenty to like. The first three tracks are the best.

Protest the Hero, "C'est La Vie"


Pharoahe Monch, W.A.R.
I talked about this one last week, and "Clap" still seems to be the only song from this great album on youtube, so here's the extended concept video for it.

Pharoahe Monch, "Clap"


Amon Amarth, Surtur Rising
Also touched on last week, but this is a chance to post their hilarious cover of System of A Down's "Aerials," included like a bizarre punchline at the end of the album.

Amon Amarth, "Aerials"


Yup.

--D