A Chronological History of my Music Library

Nine days after my last release a new artist briefly joins my library when Gary Jules released his second album "Trading Snakeoil For Wolftickets" on November 15, 2001. But who is Gary Jules? He is a singer/guitarist from Fresno, California and like a lot of people I only have one song by him in my library: the wildly succesful Tears For Fears cover of the song "Mad World". There's a slow and sad piano riff that leads the way and Jules sings a soft verse overtop in a decent voice that is unique but not that all that flashy honestly. When the cello joins in things sound even darker and more depressing and it's the epic, dark music that makes this such a memorable song for me. It's a worthy addition to the library for sure, but also certainly a one hit wonder.

Two weeks after my last release a new band joins my library when As I Lay Dying released their debut album "Beneath The Encasing Of Ashes" on November 6, 2001. But who is As I Lay Dying? They are a four-piece metalcore band from San Diego, California consisting of lead singer Tim Lambesis, guitarist Evan White, bassist Noah Chase and drummer Jordan Mancino. As I Lay Dying are part of the budding metalcore scene and they play a very heavy style of metal and Lambesis does all screaming vocals. Let's see what AILD is all about! The album begins with the title track "Beneath The Encasing Of Ashes" and things start off with a pretty fast pace led by some heavy, chugging guitars and bass. They break things down not long after getting started and most of the song is at this slower, very brutal sounding pace. Chase's bass is super heavy, White plays some cool guitar that ranges from super low, all the way to super high, and Lambesis can hardly be understood he sound...

Six days after my last release and two years since "Make Yourself" Incubus released their fourth album "Morning View" on October 22, 2001. Incubus really broke into the mainstream with their last album and this one is a similar style, but perhaps a little lighter and more melodic thanks to the massive success of their single "Drive". Let's check out the latest from Incubus! The album kicks off with it's second single "Nice To Know You" and after a quiet opening Mike Einziger kicks in with a heavy and cool guitar riff that sounds pretty good. Brandon Boyd sings a solid verse overtop a calm and smooth verse with some quiet guitars, then the heavy riff turns out to be the chorus riff as Boyd sounds good holding some long notes. After another solid round they move into a space-y new part and things sound very accessible but also very solid, it's easy to see why this was a single. Up next is "Circles" and Einziger cues up a groov...

It's a triple release day! And six long years since his last album "Ozzmosis" Ozzy Osbourne released his eighth album "Down To Earth" on October 16, 2001. Ozzy and Zakk Wylde are still here, but Geezer Butler and Deen Castronovo are both gone since last album. The new rhythm section is filled by drummer Mike Bordin and bassist Robert Trujillo. Let's check out what Ozzy has to offer in the 21st century! The album kicks off with it's first single "Gets Me Through" and Zakk opens with a soft but cool piano riff, then things shift into a pretty typical Ozzy main riff with Zakk playing some nice chugging guitars to lead the way and Ozzy still sounding like his solid self overtop. It's fairly basic and simple, but it's catchy and still some solid rock and roll. Wylde delivers an epic guitar solo as you'd expect that sounds pretty sweet, but the rest is pretty predictable. The song ends with another guitar solo, but it fades out while Zakk...

It's a double release day! Just under a year since the compilation album "Tangents", but over two years since their last studio album "Triptych", The Tea Party released their sixth album "The Interzone Mantras" on October 16, 2001. Frontman Jeff Martin is a producer for the first time on this album and he wanted to really capture The Tea Party's live energy, so this album is mostly just the three guys rocking out, and a lot less use of extra keyboards and other production. Let's check out some back-to-basics Tea Party! The album begins with "Interzone" and Martin plays a catchy and cool guitar riff to lead the way and there's some catchy horns as well that add a nice extra bit to things. Martin sounds just as epic as always singing a solid verse and the chorus is a little simpler, but still pretty catchy and solid. The verse has lots of cool stuff going on and gives off that Eastern vibe that the Tea Party have become known for. I...

A week after my last release and over two years since their debut "Side Show Freaks", 40 Below Summer released their second album "Invitation To The Dance" on October 16, 2001. Jordan Plingos has moved from bass to lead guitarist and Hector Graziani joins as their new bassist to make things a five-piece. This is 40 Below Summer's first album on a major label and they were recruited by Slipknot's label No Name because percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan liked them so much! That's pretty cool! Let's check out the latest! The album kicks off with "We The People" and it's got a pretty catchy and groovy main riff with some cool drums by Carlos Aguilar, some nice heavy guitars by Plingos and Joey D'Amico and some solid vocals my Max Illidge. Illidge sings for thr most part, but he mixes in some nice screams and things sound pretty sweet in the verse and chorus. They don't stray far from the main riff, but it's cool enough...