Musick

- Flikken: easily one of the worst belgian series. ugh. all those stupid emo scenes.

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Good things about Pukkelpop (musically)

- Kaiser Chiefs
- The Hives
- Franz Ferdinand
- Bonnie Prince Billy
- A Life Once Lost
- Every Time I Die
- No Use For A Name
- Nightwish
- Pixies
- Death From Above 1979
- Maximo Park
- Emiliana Torrini
- Danko Jones
- The Raveonettes
- Severance
- Juliette and the Licks

awesome.
'kiele kiele kiele'
from **** to ****** ... good times.

Recommended CD's

A selection of cd's I actually own msyelf. I should complete this list with records I have on cassette or the cd's I don't own an official copy of, but that will be another time.

* Amen Ra - Mass III
Slow, heavy and really good song structures. Song lengths have almost doubled since the "Sermons" cd. Although this will always be a band you have to witness live, the cd really succeeds in capturing their overwhelming live sound. Really good use of the angelic female vocals in the 3rd song. Unlike most others, I'm not really down with the last song though.
"I wrote you a bible in blood, with my bleeding heart on the cover and a teardrop on every page."

* Beck - Midnite Vultures
Beck's 4th full length, titeled as his party record. Luscious both lyrically and musically, ranging from electro to old school hiphop, disco to R&B. Always a genuine pleasure to listen to this record, although you might need a decent kitsch tolerance factor.

* The Cardigans - Gran Turismo
Unlike 'Emmerdale' and 'First band on the moon', which were both shamelessly retro, on 'Gran Turismo' we see The Cardigans going in the opposite direction with a minimalistic, electronic sound. The single 'My favourite game' is somewhat uncharacteristic of this album, that excels in the more intimate tracks, like 'Paralyzed' and 'Implode', which really allow to appreciate Nina Persson's voice.

* Comeback Kid - Turn it around
Posiness, moshability and singalongs are the three keywords to this outstanding hardcore release. The sound is mostly heavy, but we never really lose sight of the melody. While lyrically this album may be a little monotone, it never really grows old.
"I think I'm losing. Is it too late for me?
I thought, I always thought I'd make it through.
I'm asking you, why?
Is it too late for me?
Your answers never clear or maybe it's just me.
I never took the time.
It's something that I see now."

* Converge - Jane Doe
A very hard and extreme record, both vocally and musically. It's usually hard to explain what's great about this record to people that don't like hard music (not that I've ever tried). It's a pretty overwhelming record, from the vicious opening track 'Concubine' to the excellent closing tracks 'Thaw' (with some crazy riffing) and the epic title track.
"I'll take my love to the grave, as tired and worn it is"

* Converge - You fail me
The follow up record to Jane Doe, where Converge succeed brilliantly in sounding a little different than the previous album without losing the crisp and heavy sound. Personally, I could've done without the acoustic track in the middle of the album, but apart from that, this is a really good record.
"i need a purpose and i need a reason
i need to know that there is trophy and meaning
to all that we lose and all we fight for
to all our loves and our wars"

* Darkest Hour - Hidden hands of a sadist nation
Definitely one of the better American records that was influenced by Swedish metal. I can't really compare this album to Darkest Hour's previous efforts, but even fans of the older material will have trouble denying the validity of this record. Critics can say that vocals and drumming is pretty much the same throughout the record, but its mostly the guitar melodies that really make this an excellent record for me.
"It started to show
Waking up to realize
It's not a dream
Was the hardest thing"

* Dead Stop - Done with you
Took some for me to get into this record, but now it's growing on me fast. Fast, unrelenting, vicious hardcore with lyrics you can relate to.

* The Deal - Pretty words, better days
This record definitely has one of the better album intros, and really hits the spot in the lyrical department. 'Save Forever' and 'Clean Slates' have a big anthem factor.
"The empty days
the lonely nights
the dead end streets
fuck this life.
What's the fucking point?
Sugar coated words
and plastic smiles
they're all around
and it makes me sick."

* Every Time I Die - Hot Damn!
This record injected the rock back into metalcore. Or something. Very complex musicalwise, and at times incomprehensible lyrically, still this is just a compelling listen, and probably the coolest record to come out that year.
"We don't think in terms of the morning afters,
and we don't utter a single word of the night befores.
In the meantime we're just thoughtless incessant buzzing apparatus.
Disillusioned and lonelier than the last man standing.
It doesn't get any better than this so run like Hell.
This is a rock and roll takeover.
Living each day one night at a time.
There were mercy fucks, there was blood.
You should have been there by my side.
This is passion, this is red handed denial."

* Evil Superstars - Love is okay
Forget dEUS and all the other Belgian rock bands, Evil Superstars are the best Belgian rock band ever. It's really hard to name a genre that they didn't master, and this is really their best record. Starting off with the chaotic 'No more bad people' and featuring the jazzmetal single 'Satan is in my ass', there really is no way around this record.
"One day I'll be everyone's wrong boyfriend...
somebody stop me!"

* The Get Up Kids - Something to write home about
The only 'emo' record in the list. More rocking tracks varied with some calmer tracks, with passionate vocals throughout.
"If I had to explain it
I wouldn’t know where to start.
It’s like you’re falling in love while I just fall apart. "

* Give Up The Ghost - Year one
Another old school hardcore classic. Very short and to the point, this record doesn't have the time to slow down and just blazes on and on.
"Nothing hurts like the look in your eyes.
Fuck the day I thought love was more than a lie."

* Gorky - s/t
The only record in Dutch in the list. Luc De Vos has some interesting lyrical points of view, and has some great musical hooks to string it all together.
"Soms vraagt een mens zich af hoe we het in godsnaam overleven.
De nacht vol boze dromen en de wekker om half zeven."

* Grandaddy - The sophtware slump
This record succesfully combines rock guitars and synthesizers into a special (mostly depressed) sound/atmosphere, helped a lot by the singer's distinctive voice.

* Interpol - Antics
Follow up record to the debut. Has a little less edgy guitar parts than Turn on the bright lights, less rock and more slower tracks. Or something.
"It's way too late to be this locked inside ourselves
The trouble is that you're in love with someone else
It should be me. Oh, it should be me"

* Interpol - Turn on the bright lights
This album just strings one good song after another together. Good melodies ('Stella was a diver and she was always down') combined with more rocking tracks ('Roland') and pretty mysterious lyrics ('She can read, she can read, she can read, she's bad').
"But it’s different now that I’m poor and ageing
I’ll never see this face again"

* Justice - Look alive
Definitely not the best record in the vocal or the recording quality department. But the feel of this record is just right to make you want to sing along and get your groove on for 20 minutes. Probably the record of this list that I've played more than one time in a row the most.
"24/7, it's pounding in me.
Looking in the mirror, this is who I want to be."

* Mauro - Songs from a bad hat
Mauro is one of my heroes, and unlike most people, I like this solo record the best. Some laidback rocking and acoustic tunes, with witty lyrics and good song titles ("Finish it all off with love") as always.
"I've got books and a fireplace for rainy days
where we can share second thoughts about the human race
I've got friends I've got family to embrace
instructive tapes about the latest dance craze
come to me baby
there is more than enough
come to me baby and
finish it all off with love"

* New Found Glory - s/t
When I bought this record, I listened to it for weeks and weeks. It's a pretty standard poppunk record: whiny voice, dealing uniquely with girl problems lyrically, ... and yet, this record just really does it for me. Singalong fest in the car when this is spinning.

* The New Pornographers - the electric version
Pure undilated pop music. Nothing more, nothing less. Sweet synthesizer tunes, and Neko Case's angelic voice. Minor downside is their tendency to prolong the duration of their songs too much sometimes.

* Norma Jean - Bless the martyr, kiss the child
Metalcore is a really saturated genre nowadays, but this record really succeeded in standing out, mostly because of the constant quality of the songwriting, and the diversity of the songs. The opening song had unconventional song structure, whereas the fifth song is an 15 minute long almost Isis-esque epic.

* Poison The Well - The opposite of december
Basically one of the records that started the whole metalcore madness in the usa. The mix of heavy guitars and some sung parts really was trendsetting at the time. The follow up records were decent too, but never had an impact comparable to the one of this album.

* The Postal Service - Give up
A pretty unique record. Soft electro/guitar powered songs with really good lyrics. "The district sleeps alone tonight" is a really outstanding song, starting off all slow and drowsy until the beat kicks in and makes this a happy, posi dancy song despite the sadder lyrics.
"Will someone please call a surgeon who can crack my ribs
and repair this broken heart that you're deserting for better company?
I can't accept that it's over: I will block the door
like a goalie tending the net in the third quarter
of a tied-game rivalry"

* Pretty Girls Make Graves - Good Health
Female fronted power rock, with enough attention to melody. The singer's voice really sticks out, and songs like "3 away" really hit the spot in the lyrical department as well. The band started experimenting more on their next record, not always very succesfully imo.
"Life's complications and frustrations
They disappear when the music starts playing
I found a place where it feels alright
I heard a record and it opened my eyes"

* Queens Of The Stone Age - Songs for the deaf
Their new record, "Lullabies To Paralyze" is pretty good too, but they sound a lot more focused on this record. This record lasts close to an hour but never gets boring, on the contrary, when this record is finished, you just feel like putting it back on for another spin. Josh Homme is really good at making songs that sound so good, that you don't notice/mind the lyrical simplicity at times.

* The Raveonettes - Chain gang of love
Sweet poppy rock tunes with some wall of sound effects here and there. The Raveonettes really succeed in evoking a retro feel and touch.
"Talking To You Makes Me Wanna Shake And Shout
Touching You Makes Me Wanna Come Right Out
You Could Never Want Me
The Same Way I Want You
I’m Love Tornado Struck
I Don’t Know What To Do"

* Saves The Day - Can't slow down
Most people would go for "Through being cool", but personally I like the snotty poppunk of this album better. I really like the closing track of this album.
"I keep remembering the days that you said you might go crazy if you spent one more minute with me. I keep thinking about those days and I don't know...is one more minute going to kill you now?"

* The Setup - The pretense of normality
Just a damn good Belgian hardcore record, having a pretty unique sound in the Belgian scene, and totally pulling it off.
"Judged by the way you live, not by the words you string together".

* Sonic Youth - Dirty
This was a tough choice to pick the best SY album, but this has 2 (hit)singles and a lot of songs sung by Kim Gordon, it's pretty hard to beat that.
"I said it before and I'll say it again:
'I'm so happy we're just friends'"

* Terror - One with the underdogs
I'm going to have to list this one, beacuse I don't own their previous effort yet. But this is definitely a winner too, although this is a pretty long record to old school standards, there are no disappointing tracks here, and even the mystery track is definitely worth it. Only bummer is that the record doesn't have Vogelisms like "More intensity, more ferocity and more mosh. More mosh! Open this place up!".
"Best friends become strangers
True love it turns to hatred
Nothing you can do to me
Still something deep inside
Tells me to be free"