Torres “The Sprinter”

Torres

The Sprinter

[Partisan; 2015]

RATING: 9

In 2013, Mackenzie Scott (who performs under the name “Torres”) came bursting out the gates with a debut that was intimate, honest, and powerful. Over sparse production and reverberated guitars, she displayed her vocal prowess, moving from hushed whispers to impassioned, operatic swells of aggravation. Each track dealt with emotional stories of struggle and realization, but for the most part, they provided glimmers of hope when in their most dire state.

Bob Dylan Performs on David Letterman’s 2nd to Last Show

“What are the two most important things to know in the world? One is to be nice to other people. Two, the greatest songwriter of modern times is Bob Dylan. That’s all you need to know in life.”

– David Letterman

When I first heard the news, I was leery. “Bob Dylan to appear on David Letterman’s second to last episode.” I’m a huge Bob Dylan fan (the blog is named after him, after all), but I’ve not been much of a fan of his work over the past decade. Whether it be the debacle that was his Grammy performance at the 2011 Grammy Awards or the joke of a Christmas album that he released in 2009, Dylan’s old age is showing in his most recent efforts.

METZ “II”

METZ

II

[SubPop; 2015]

Rating: 8.5

Brett Morgen’s HBO documentary Montage of Heck is a gut-punch for anyone who grew up listening to Nirvana and lived through the eventual suicide of Kurt Cobain. In the film, Cobain’s life is told through his own home videos, journals, and drawings, all conveying the troubled life of a genius that never truly felt accepted by those around him and the world as a whole. As I watched this therapeutic film, I couldn’t help but wonder if we’d ever have another artist come along that has as big of an impact on a generation as Kurt had on Generation X. In a musical landscape that is littered with Justin Beibers and Taylor Swifts, where are those kids who were weaned by Nirvana from birth and why hasn’t that influence resonated in the music of today?

In what could only be a sign from beyond, the latest METZ album, II, arrived in the mail the day after I viewed the documentary.   On their sophomore release, this trio of 20-somethings from Calgary, Canada burst from the confines of the recording studio with a frenzied dissonance and unbridled fury that could only come from the womb of Nirvana.

BDWPS #35: Cinco De Metal

In this episode aptly titled “Cinco De Metal,” we take a look at some of the best metal albums to come out so far in 2015, including Torche, Sannhet, Sumac, and An Autumn For Crippled Children. We also check out a new track from Lightning Bolt, and revisit classics from Black Sabbath and Jimi Hendrix. Check it out HERE or subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher (search keyword: BDWPS).

Track List:

Torche “Minions”
Sannhet “Enemy Victorian”
Sumac “Thorn in the Lion’s Paw”
Lightning Bolt “The Metal East”
An Autumn for Crippled Children “Converging Towards the Light”
Black Sabbath “Hand of Doom”
Jimi Hendrix “All Along the Watchtower”