A Chronological History of my Music Library

It's a double release day! On the same day as my last release, a little over a year since "Recordings", and over two years since their last studio album "Lightbulb Sun", Porcupine Tree released their seventh album "In Absentia" on September 24, 2002. Longtime drummer Chris Maitland is no longer with the band and I thought he was a pretty solid drummer! Replacing him is new drummer Gavin Harrison and there's also a stylistic shift this album as Porcupine Tree move further away from their psychedelic past. There's still lots of progressive goodness but in addition to their usual rock style this is their first album where at times they move into progressive metal! Steven Wilson produced Opeth's "Blackwater Park" last year and this influenced him to lean a bit more metal, which I definitely approve of! Let's see what the new Porcupine Tree is all about! The album begins with "Blackest Eyes" and they roll nicely into pret...

On the same day as my last release a new artist briefly joins my library when Ryan Adams released his third album "Demolition" on September 24, 2002. But who is Ryan Adams? He is a country singer/guitarist from Jacksonville, North Carolina and while I'm definitely not a big fan of his, I do have one song by him in my library titled "Desire". It'a driven by a catchy acoustic guitar riff and some smooth singing by Adams. Eventually some mean harmonica joins the mix and I don't usually say this, but it really spices things up and sounds pretty good! This is definitely out of my usual comfort zone, but I think it's a well done song, even if it's a one hit wonder for me. 

A week after my last release a new band joins my library when Iron & Wine released their debut album "The Creek Drank The Cradle" on September 24, 2002. But who is Iron & Wine? Well right now, it's just one guy! Iron & Wine is the project of singer/songwriter Sam Beam, from Chapin, South Carolina, and this album is just Beam and his acoustic guitar for the most part! He recorded the whole album by himself in his bedroom and also produced it all himself! That's pretty impressive, let's check out what the solitary music of Iron & Wine is all about! The album begins with "Lion's Mane" and Beam plays a fast acoustic guitar riff that sounds pretty cool and he sings a light verse overtop in his quiet but smooth voice. He adds a second acoustic riff with a bit of twang that gives things a very folk-y feel, but the other fast riff sounds good the whole way through. Beam even adds some banjo for the final verse and while banjo isn't my fav...

Two weeks after my last release and two and a half years since "The Sickness", Disturbed released their second album "Believe" on September 17, 2002. This album is not as heavy as their debut, and while there are still elements of what make Disturbed a nu-metal powerhouse, it's a much more melodic and experimental album at times. Let's check it out! The album begins with it's lead single "Prayer" and it's got a fairly simple but decently heavy main riff. David Draiman sings a fast verse that is still very nu-metal but the chorus is fairly tame and things seem a little toned down compared to all the energy from their debut. I guess I can see why it was chosen as a single, it's not too heavy at all and is accessible for Disturbed, but this isn't exactly what I'm looking for and I find it to be a bit of a bland opener. Up next is another single titled "Liberate" and it's got a pretty fast and cool main riff and right ...

Six days after my last release a new band joins my library when The Acacia Strain released their debut album "...And Life Is Very Long" on September 2, 2002. But who is The Acacia Strain? They are a six-piece from Chicopee, Massachusetts in a fairly new genre known as deathcore, a cross between death metal and the budding metalcore genre. They consist of lead singer Vincent Bennett, lead guitarist Daniel Laskiewicz, bassist Karrie Whitfield, rhythm guitarists Christopher Daniele and Daniel Daponde and drummer Ben Abert. And who else would produce such a band, but our good friend Adam D. from Killswitch Engage! Let's dive into a brand new genre of heavy metal! The album kicks off with "Cable Ready Techno Slut" and they dive right into a pretty damn heavy main riff with some super dirty and distorted guitars and Bennett screaming all over the place! He goes super low at times, hits some pretty high notes at others, and does everything in between! I love how he kee...

On the same day as my last two releases another new band joins my library when 30 Seconds To Mars released their debut album "30 Seconds To Mars" on August 27, 2002. But who is 30 Seconds to Mars? They are an alternative rock duo from Los Angeles, California consisting of brothers Shannon Leto (drums, percussion) and frontman Jared Leto (vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards). 30 Seconds to Mars are listed as alternative rock, but they have a wide and varied palette within the rock genre, ranging from heavy metal at times, to very pop-y at others. Let's see what 30 Seconds to Mars is all about! The album kicks off with it's lead single "Capricorn (A Brand New Name)" and Jared plays a decently heavy main guitar riff that nicely starts and stops and things sound pretty epic right from the get-go. Shannon's drums sound prett epic as well in what turns out to be the chorus riff and Jared has a pretty epic voice. He sings the verse and chorus in a bit of a laid ba...