WTF?! More Music Reviews... Shit!!

East of the Wall
Farmer's Almanac
Forgotten Empire
Street: 11.18
East of the Wall = Circa Survive + Black Sabbath + Laundry - vocals

East of the Wall is honestly some of the best instrumental music I have heard. It's about as intelligent and heavy as you can get. At no point on this 8-song CD does the power trio fall into the tempting abyss of fiddling with their instruments for musical vindication. The band consists of Brett Bamberger (Postman Syndrome) on bass, Mike Somers (Postman Syndrome) on drums and Jeff Speidell (Delft) on guitar. Every song makes me feel like I am losing my virginity to the old hairy gods of instrumental prog metal; it makes me cry, yet I feel so sophisticated. If a less annoying Dysrhythmia and a more talented Russian Circles conceived a three-headed dog beast, it would be named East of the Wall.

Godhead

At The Edge of the World

Driven Music

Street: 11.25

Godhead = Static –X + King's X

Godhead brings just the right amount of creepiness and soulful balladry to the musical table. It's an emotional rollercoaster with these guys. It's like dating all the members of Stabbing Westward, but they are all bipolar. One minute they're sulking in the corner about how you never loved them and the next minute they are standing on the front of the Titanic all inspirational-like, declaring how amazing your love is. It's draining. This band would be much better off if they would embrace the creepiness and experiment within the context of their sound, instead of reverting to big, wide Scott Stapp-type choruses. The grandiose choruses in every song weaken the band's sound; they're cheap and contrived. Godhead is just not worth all the drama.

Science Faxtion
Living On Another Frequency

Mascot

Street: 11.11

Science Faxtion = DJ QBert + Primus + Parliament Funkadelic + Nine Inch Nails

The first and possibly the only album released by the super collaboration group known as Science Faxtion has so many guest stars it's like looking up at the universe. The album features the talents of Bootsy Collins, Buckethead, Brain Mantua, Greg Hampton, Bernie Worrell, and Chuck D. Apparently, all these fancy-pants dudes have invented a new genre of music known as space-age metalloid funk This genre of music is bound to be hugely popular; who can resist funkified industrialized turntablism? Soon every man, woman and child will be listening to space-age metalloid funk. So you better get on the A-Train and get on down to Science Faxtion. I'll be riding in the caboose.

Wunderbuggs

Written In Flesh

Independt
Street: 11.11

Wunderbugg = a happy Richard D. James + Chemical Brothers + Orbital

This is really amazing, creative electronic music combined with a horrible band name. If you took ecstasy every time it rained, hung out in your basement all day tinkering with drum machines and samplers and began to compile a list of the doofiest possible names for your techno band, then when the sun finally came out and you emerged from your electronic euphoric trance and decided to share your music with the rest of the world, and everybody would love your fresh and creative new take on electronica until you told them the name of your band and they all laughed at you and made you cry, then you understand firsthand what the members of Wunderbugg's lives are like.

Ex Machina
Self Titled
Self-Released

Street: 10.28

Ex Machina = Muse + Radiohead + Taking Back Sunday + Pixies

I honestly have to say that Ex Machina is probably one of the best local bands. They may be slightly inconsistent, but who isn't. The first song on the album, "Syphoned" is by far the best track, but also seems to be sort of the bastard child. "Syphoned" comes out blaring and with serious intensity. The first half of the song reminds me something Far would have written back in the day. Then the sequencing does some prog action with 30 seconds of silence separating the beginning of the song from the second half of the song. It's very original. The rest of the album is a little bit mellow, but the vocals are solid and the compositions creative. Big up, Ex Machina. Maybe these guys will play at my birthday party?