A Chronological History of my Music Library

A month after my last release and a year and a half since "Still Life", Opeth released their fifth album "Blackwater Park" on March 12, 2001. Opeth continue to play the same style of progressive death metal as usual, but I wasn't the only person who absolutely loved their last album... Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson liked it so much that he contacted Mikael Akerfeldt about being the producer on their next album, and the two became good friends! Not only is the amazing Steven Wilson the producer of this album, but he also contributes clean vocals, some additional guitar, and some piano as well! Akerfeldt has said that Wilson had a huge influence on this album and what a wonderful collaboration this is! Let's check out the latest from Opeth! The album kicks off with the over ten minute track "The Leper Affinity" and after a quiet first few seconds they emerge into a nice heavy riff with some pretty good contributions from everyone: cool guitar

Six weeks after my last release a new band joins my library when Maximum The Hormone released their debut EP "Ho (Ootori)" on February 14, 2001. But who is Maximum the Hormone? They are a four-piece heavy metal/hardcore punk band from Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan consisting of Nao (drums, female vocals), Ue-Chang (bass, backing vocals), Maximum the Ryokun (guitars, clean vocals) and Daisuke-Han (screaming vocals). Maximum the Hormone sing in a weird mix of mostly Japanese vocals, but occasionally English is mixed in. With every member providing their own unique vocal style this is certainly an intriguing band and they have even been called the System of a Down of Japan. That's a pretty great comparison, let's check'em out! The EP kicks off with "Force" and it's got a nice upbeat and pretty heavy main riff led by some cool guitar by Maximum the Ryokun. Daisuke-Han sings in a pretty high voice that is not as heavy as he can be at all, but it sounds alright e

Happy New Year! Three weeks after my last release a new band joins my library when The Expendables released their debut album "No Time To Worry" on January 2, 2001. But who are The Expendables? They are a five-piece rock/reggae band consisting of Adam Patterson (drums, vocals), Ryan DeMars (bass), Cam Hanson (rhythm guitar), Raul Bianchi (lead guitar) and Geoff Weers (lead vocals, guitar). The Expendables play an interesting combination of your typical reggae music mixed with rock that can go anywhere from soft and space-y, to fast and punk-y. It's an interesting combination for sure, let's see what The Expendables are all about! The album kicks off with "Malibu" and they dive right into a catchy and fast-paced reggae chorus riff and both Weers and Patterson sing the repetitive but catchy chorus. The verse is pretty quiet and typically reggae and Weers sings a fast verse that sounds good overtop. He sings pretty quickly and while his voice is certainly nothi

It's a triple release day! Over four years since their last studio album "Ænima", Tool released a box set called "Salival" on December 12, 2000. This is not a studio album, nor is it fully a live album. Five songs are live, one of which is a cover and one of which is a new song! Four songs are new studio songs, including another cover! There was also a DVD/VHS that came with the box set but we will just be covering the CD. Let's check out some old/new Tool! The album kicks off with "Third Eye (live)" and while most of this song is pretty true to the studio version, the opening is completely different. Instead of the different voices we hear talking at the beginning of the studio version, there is just one voice on this live version and the catchphrase is "think for yourself. Question authority." It's an interesting opening still and the music slowly creeps in and gets louder and louder. Once Danny Carey comes in with some cool drums t

It's a double release day! On the same day as my last release and just 15 months since "Happiness...Is Not A Fish That You Can Catch", Our Lady Peace released their fourth album "Spiritual Machines" on December 12, 2000. This album is a concept album inspired by the book "The Age of Spiritual Machines" by Ray Kurzweil. Kurzweil actually speaks on several songs throughout the album and guitarist Mike Turner and singer Raine Maida were both really into this book obviously. Guitarist Jamie Edwards, who helped out on a couple songs on "Happiness...", became an unofficial fifth member and plays a lot of rhythm guitar on this album. Also, drummer Jeremy Taggart broke his ankle towards the end of recording and two of the songs actually have Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron, which is pretty cool! Let's check out OLP's concept album! The album begins with a six second track called "R.K. Intro" and every R.K. song has Kurzweil speakin

A week after my last release and a year and a half since "Triptych", The Tea Party released a greatest hits album called "Tangents" on December 12, 2000. I don't care for greatest hits albums, but there are some unreleased songs on here as well: one brand new single, two B-sides from their last album and one cover! Let's check out a few new songs by The Tea Party! The first song is brand new and was also a pretty succesful single and it's called "Walking Wounded". It's got a bit of an Eastern feel to it as Tea Party likes to do and it's a pretty simple and quiet main riff with Jeff Martin leading the way with his great voice. The chorus is a little louder with some interesting stuff going on in the background and Martin continues to lead the way with some more great vocals. Stuart Chatwood plays some quietly epic keyboards and Jeff Burrows shows off with a couple nice fills. Martin plays a solid "solo" (it's really just th