I was thinking this morning, ‘I am a little burnt out with posting’. The Urban Exploration scene, at least regarding me is drying up some, and although I have almost a years worth of content, writing about it can be tedious.
Music has always been a huge part of my life, and I feel blessed that I am one of those souls who can lose myself into the sounds and harmonies if played loudly enough. A side-effect of doing this over the last several decades has had its effects on my hearing.
I struggle to hear high-frequency sounds, and female voices are one of those issues I have, especially in the workplace. If they would just speak louder, I find myself thinking frequently.
Still, I refuse stop listening to loud music, if the rest of my family are out. It’s a gluttonous, indulgent treat that I will not deny myself of. So here are some tunes, unfortunately not any more mainstream than my usual shit. Sorry about that, not sorry.
Tragic Kingdom – No Doubt (Tragic Kingdom – 1995)
I was fortunate enough to see Miss Stefani and co. in 1996 around the time of the launch of 'Tragic Kingdom', their third studio album. A friend of mine had an obsession with the band, and convinced me that it was in my best interests to see them live.
‘Don’t Speak’ was either riding high in the charts or had been recently, and though it was a monster hit, that did not quantify success or sell out shows. This one was at the Manchester Academy, a small venue and all standing.
During ‘Spiderwebs’ the crowd, mostly made up of University Students started vigorously swaying around, and I had to use all my strength to keep from falling and being crushed. I vowed from that day, to only frequent sitting gigs.
‘Tragic Kingdom’ has a little more balls and progressive vibe to it, than the usual fare from this band. It quickly gained my attention and stuck out as a favourite, even if you can’t hear a damn word of Gwen’s vocals.
Loser's Day Parade – Kino (Picture – 2005)
Finding information on Kino is not so easy. There’s a Wikipedia page for them, but it’s some Russian band with the same name. Isn’t there supposed to be copyright laws prohibiting such terrible plagiarism?
As ‘my’ Kino was formed much later then they would be the ones stealing the name, and ‘Kino’ were supposed to be a super group formed by ex-members of other bands, Chris Maitland, formerly of Porcupine Tree being one.
After one album, they dissolved into nothing, so much for the super project?
‘Loser's Day Parade’ is your typical progressive style long song, going through a mixture of themes while winding in and out of loud and quiet sections, with some especially strange quirky sections. I particularly like the end, even though it sounds like, ‘nobody gets company cars’.
That’s one way to cut the costs down I guess. Kino’s sound does remind me of ‘Frost’ a little, I am sure 
On Most Surfaces (Inuït) – The Gathering (Nighttime Birds – 1997)
It’s going to be a while before my appetite is sated when it comes to Anneke van Giersbergen and her old band, who am I getting to appreciate more by the day.
The blokes playing are not in fact a bunch of greasy doom metal heads but fine musicians indeed. René Rutten is a decent lead guitarist with a driving sound who visually reminds me of Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains. It must be the hair, more so the colour.
This live performance is from the 25th anniversary concert in 2015. How I would have loved to see this gig, even though some of the early vocalists of the band kind of fuck up some of the songs with their contaminated efforts.
Thankfully just Anneke sings on this one. Silje Wergeland is fine, but those singers before Anneke joined such as 'Bart Smits', I wish they were absent.
‘On Most Surfaces’ is a driving, chuggy affair and best played loud. Mix some menacing grungy metal guitar with overlaying synth’s and I’m practically at the mercy of the music.
Guitar Image - Source
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