Brent - Greenville Ave Store

06/02/05 Brent "Peaches" Engel
Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
This album is the second studio release for Okkervil River, and it does not ring true to the fabled "sophomore slump" that most bands achieve. The album cleverly fuses folk and post punk influences to create an energetic new breed of sound. The album seems to perfectly pace itself from ballads to more up beat tracks, not leaving the listener to lose interest in the album altogether. The lyrics on the album are open and honest with a bit of fantasy mixed in. Many an extended metaphor is used to relate certain characters in the album with Greek mythological items. Once or twice "golden fleece" is used, and the main character (the black sheep boy) has ‘perfect curls of envied hair‘ that seem to attract so many individuals in the album. The themes range from love to loss and somewhere in between you'll end up admitting to yourself that you honestly do like Okkervil River.

04/05/05 Brent Engel
The Locust - Safety Second, Body Last
What the hell is grindcore? In a culture that has a penchant for dividing and subdividing every genre, the locust stands as a shining beacon to all who have strayed from the typical category of “hardcore“. On the Locust‘s new album “safety second, body last“, the seemingly changeless wall of noise that this rawkus band creates has a definite new spin put on it. On the previous record “Plague Soundscapes“, the record boasts over 23 tracks and all of them clocking in under a whopping minute. The new album however has only two tracks totaling ten minutes. What gives you ask? Well it seems that out insect clad boys have grown up a little. The Locust, having currently been on tour with Mike Patton (Fantomas, Mr. Bungle, Faith No More) and being signed to the latter‘s label, are exploring the more experimental side of their chaotic sound. The album has the same old fun bursts of spasms, noise and screams that all locust fans have come to love them for in the past. However, in between these bursts there are prolonged instrumental interludes. This is definitely an album to check out if you are currently or not currently a Locust fan. And if you‘re not already a Locust fan, you should read the titles of their tracks…that alone is enough to convert you to their fanbase.