"He calls him self Zeus....."

In case you where unaware of the fact that I was a musician. Well by golly gee willikars here I am. I'm "Zeus Blackfoot", I'm a singer/songwriter under the genre of the unknown I would say I'm an independent/ experimental artist. Due to the fact i love to experiment with just about everything , from Folk Music ,to psychedelic mind adventures. I like to test the listener, to see how far i can take the human listening pleasure. Ladies and gentlemen. I give you... Myself... Zeus Blackfoot....

http://www.myspace.com/zachgmusic

PS. yes it still says "Z" as my name.
Myspace is rather unhelpful,
so I have to figure out a way to change it.

DISCOVERING MELANCHOLIC MAGIC !!!

Being a huge fan of "Shoegaze" music such as My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Ride, Jesus and Mary Chain.

I tend to love to find new bands in the genre. But tonight I have discovered a band so moving and powerful I immediately had to write about this. I stumbled upon a band called Raised By Swans. I was reading an article about "Good bands who don't have much success" and Raised By Swans was on the list saying they where a shoegazer band from Canada. I'm thinking to my self ..."interesting name". So I go on Youtube to check out this band, and I type in their first album name "Codes and Secret Longing" which brought me to the song "Violet light". The band is mesmerizing. It completely blew me away.

Being that I was in a trance by these guys, I saw that the whole album is uploaded on Youtube. I listened to the whole album and unlike a lot of albums from music today,  you cannot skip any song on the album. Each song is a crystallized work of art. The band has a pure and rich slow sound, its kind of like if  shoegaze band "Slowdive" met indie / post hardcore band "Sunny Day Real Estate". Which is an amazing combination.
So seriously take my word for it, this band  and album is a melancholic gem. they just released a new album called "No Ghostless Place". I have not got the chance to listen to it, but when I get the chance its my first choice.

A "TRUE" HIP HOP ARTIST, WITH A VOICE OF A GENERATION.

When we listen to most hip hop music of today, it's all based  of one lined lyrics that make absolutely no sense, serve no purpose, and have NO meaning what so ever... Such as lyrics like.. "This is why i'm hot" or "I'm the biggest boss that you've seen thus far". To me  That So called "hip hop" is plain, simple, non talented BULLSHIT! But I am going to stand up and gladly say we have a "Hip Hop Superman" to save hip hop music.  and this  "Superman of Hip hop" never ceases to amaze me with his work.  And thats Kanye West.

First of all, the man has something to say. He has something to contribute to the music industry. We all know he really didn't let Taylor Swift finish what she had to say the night at the MTV VMA's. When he stated his opinion on what the best female video Should had been for Beyonce. But you must admit the man has talent, and has the biggest balls. When he has his mind set, he shoots for the stars. But for Kanye, it's not about the ego. It's about the music.

Kanye does things in music that no one has done before in hip hop. He practically introduced the "auto tune sound" to the mainstream hip hop world. Kanye is also a master of sampling. He really amazes me with his musical insight. Not only he adores hip hop, he adores rock music, such as Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones just as much as he loves hip hop. I noticed in his "Graduation" album he sampled the song 

"Sing Swan Song" from the experimental rock band "Can", on to his song "Drunk Hot Girls". I was shocked

he used that in a sample because not a lot of people have heard of Can unless you like experimental music. Or just a music buff in general like me. He blows me away with his knowledge of music..  

Kanye Talks about life in his work, he draws you into his lyrics which are referenced metaphorically

in a lot of songs, To me that is interesting for a hip hop artist. Usually they babble and speak's in a lame with lyrics.

Kanye at times puts on a metaphorical way of communication in his songs. But is Powerfully  blunt. He really has a style of his own when it comes to writing . He keeps me interested through out his albums. Most people had a bad reception to "808 and heartbreaks" due to it was rather depressing, and wasent like " Late Registration" ,"College drop Out" or "Graduation".When "808's was released, He made a "David Bowie move". Like when David Evolved from his "Ziggy Stardust" persona. Kanye evolved to another level in his musical journey. He entered a new stage in his life and in music. 

To me the  "808's" album was genius being that is how he felt at the time due to losing his mother tragically. You can feel the heart break in it. When it starts out with The song "Say You Will", you feel his pain.   You rarely can pick up emotions in a lot of todays hip hop. He definitely works with musical emotional expression perfectly... 

Yes Kanye has had some controversy. But what can we say? The man does what he wants to do. And like I said he has balls unlike most people in the music industry. Sure he has pissed off a lot of people. Whether it be the  Hurricane Katrina incident where he publicly criticized George W. Bush on national television, stating "George W. Bush does Not care about black people". Yeah.. That was quite ballsy to say such a vulgar statement on national television.. But could You do it? Can you picture Any other artist or celebrity do that or say that? I think Kanye did something this country is granted with, but people are still afraid of using this given luxury, which is (Freedom Of Speech). So I give the man credit for what he had to say about the whole Katrina incident. Takes  a lot of guts to publicly criticize The President of the United States on live National Television. And about the Taylor Swift "interruption" at the MTV VMA's. When I saw that I wanted to give Kanye a high five! I was literally Crying because I was laughing so hard. Because the man Does not give a flying Fuck!!! Kanye Is Going to say, what Kanye has to say!  I respect him for his brutal honesty.

So  I must say Kanye is in a league of his own. People try to follow his path, but cant keep up. The man has too many roads in his path.  He takes his work in all directions. Its not just hip hop to him, its Art. So look out Rick Ross!! Look out Gucci Mane!! Let your ears behold  "Intelligence", from the Artistic, Daring, and  unique sounds.  The Power of Kanye West!!!

My most recommended album By Kanye West  is "Graduation"..

       

Be on the look out of Kanye's new album release.....

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy!!!! 

SOMETHINGS MAKING SOUND IN THE GARDEN AT LAST!!!

I have grown up with so much music. Especially music from the grunge scene, Pearl Jam, Nirvana etc..
But no band from the grunge scene has influenced me, nor touched me more than Soundgarden has.
Soundgarden were really the pioneers of grunge rock in the late 80's, but where the last grunge band to make an international hit.  Their album "Superunkown" put Soundgarden on the
charts finally with songs like "Black Hole Sun" "Fell On Black Days"
"The Day I Tried To Live" and "My Wave". The album won them
a grammy. the band released one more album in 1996
"Down the Upside" but went on a hiatus for almost over 13 years...

13 years later Soundgarden has returned, releasing their compilation album "Telephantasm". The compilation includes a unreleased song "Black Rain" which  has a very dark and doom like sound to it. It reminds me of "Superunknowns" sound very dark, eerie, and powerful. The band played Lollapalooza  this year and, played a few shows promoting their release of Black Rain for the latest Guitar Hero release. the band consists the classic line up, Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil, Ben Shepard, and Matt Cameron. To me the band sounds like they did when they split more than 13 years ago. personally I'm glad Cornell got out of the Audioslave/ pop stage he was in.. Yes they had that one cool song "like a stone". BUT I WANT SOUNDGARDEN!!!

If you are curious about the sound of Soundgarden..
Check out this album !!!!
SUPERUNKNOWN!!!

Todays Doonesbury... Awesome!

THE YES AND NO'S OF METALCORE.....

For about I would say going on 6 to 7 years. There has been an  roaring underground scene in music.
About 5 years back, not many people where into what they call "Metalcore" or "Screamo"at the time. It was just gaining popularity to the underground scenes. The bands usually consist of what normal Metal bands usually contain, Guitars, bass, Lead singer, and drummer. But they fuse the music into a technical sound, with complex solos,  or really heavy breakdowns. Personally I have a few metal groups of choice that I would listen to still but most bands, now are horrible and are too trendy I was into metalcore long before most of the people who like it now, were even aware metalcore existed..

Alot of bands play this music passion and love for what they do. They write songs about Anger and resentment
and catch the right audience. kind of like the 80's "Hardcore Punk" scene (which I adore more than metalcore).
I'm not trying to bash these bands i'm just giving you my strait up opinion

Now heres a brief list of bands that i consider worth, and not worth listening to.


THE YES LIST.                  

1. Lamb Of God
2. Norma Jean
3. Underoath
4. Acacia Strain
5. As Blood Runs Black
6. The Black Dahlia Murder
7. As I lay Dying

THE NO LIST.

1. Devil Wears Prada
2. Iwresteledabearonce
3. A Day To Remember
4. Emmure
5. Job for a Cowboy
6. White Chapel
7. See You Next Tuesday

If Warhol Had Lived....

I love art. I always have been fascinated by the fact that art has No Limits, and the part of being unique in a sense. But Andy Warhol not only was very unique, he broke barriers! I always try to image in my head "What would Andy be working on if he had lived"? Could he had built a giant pink skyscraper of a fire hydrant by now? I would not put it past the man. He was always looking for the simple things in life, and making them into a complex, thought provoking, controversial life form.

Take his "screen tests" for instance, he filmed so many of todays icons, like Lou Reed, Nico, Edie Sedgwick, just sitting in a chair and staring at the camera. One I absolutely adore is Lou Reed's screen test, due to his apathetic snarl , his dark sunglasses, and drinking a bottle of Coke with a blank expression on his face. Another of Ann Buchanan the whole footage is her, with a Sad look on her face, almost to where you read the sadness in her eyes. Eventually Ann bursts into tears,  leaving you silent and grasping a powerful moment, watching a person finally break....You don't know whats wrong, but you feel the pain. Most people would look at these things and say "This isn't art this is depressing!!!" "Whats this got to do with anything?" But people don't look at it to deeply, that it is beautiful to see something REAL. Thats what Andy did he brought you in to the normal day things, but he made you actually focus on them. and when you did you had a whole new view about the subject. Just like the Campbell's soup can series. they where no longer just a can of soup. It was his figure of repetition, The beauty of everyday life.

I once heard someone say, that "Andy was the best Non artist." and I must say I agree. Yes he had artistic value, but he never was a Picasso. Andy knew exactly what he was doing. When he had an image he went for it. When his image was brought to life, he was ready to do something else. People called him a manipulator and a user, and in a way he was. But he never meant to hurt people in any way. he never bonded with people emotionally. Only artistically. He was attracted to the "misfits'' of society, the ones who never fit in. People who had addictions REALLY attracted Andy. And he would feed their addictions, just so it wouldn't destroy his fascination with them artistically. Otherwise he would lose total interest in them. But thats why Andy Warhol Was Andy Warhol. The man who bonded not emotionally, but artistically.

 I think if he where alive today he would be working with something huge. because every time he changed his media, he would progress to something bigger. I think Andy would have many things in store for the world to behold. thats one thing i loved about Andy, he was always in the "Now" he never reflected on the past. he was always focusing on what was "in" at the time. In a Growing Complicated world we live in now. Boy he would have had so many new things to work with... He would had been in heaven. But we cherish his work, and will forever.... This is an ode to the simple things, the simple things that make us double take on them.
weather it be people crying on camera , to soup cans, to watching Andy eat a hamburger. The realism keeps us drawn in. Andy Warhol Simplicity- Realistic- Immortal.

Great Job!!!

You know, its hard to find something that really tickles your funny bone when it comes to TV sitcoms, or anything comical. But last year I discovered a Show that appears on adult swim that makes me laugh ENDLESSLY.

"Tim and Eric Awesome Show great Job", the surrealistic comedic show Starring, Tim Heidecker, and Eric Wareheim   that airs only on late nights on Adult Swim. 

The show consists of "skits" of corny retro like fictional commercials, to outdated fictional sitcoms that we no longer laugh at because of the punchlines. the show is only about 15 mins per episode, but leaves you in tears of laughter....That is if you understand what I like to call "Monty Pythons Method" in humor. I like to compare Tim and Eric to Monty Python, because the groups both make silly, strange, and random situations in to hysterical skits. which I find is quite genius.

 They have a lot of guest stars, such as Zach Galifianakis, Paul Rudd, Marilyn Manson, Michael Cera, and David Cross. One Guest Star that actually turned into  a regular was John C. Reilly playing " Dr. Steve Brule" on the show who gives semi- useful health advice such as "Milk taste sour? Just check the expiration date dummy !"  Brule politely ends the message with "For your health"!
 Which I find is honestly one of the funniest parts of the show. Zach Galifianakis often plays "Tairy Greene" a fictional famous actor, who appears on the show on random skits. Tim And Eric like to make the atmosphere of the show very "Public Access" like. every once in a while you will see a " tracking indicator" like as if it is being recorded by a cheap camera from the late 80's early 90's, and is being adjusted to its best quality. That right there is the beauty of the show because it brings Realism in to the comed,. which noone has done since Monty Python. Yet Tim and Eric take thier own direction with their humor. 

Tim and Eric are for sure geniuses of comedy even though they are often misunderstood. If there will be a list of shows in 20 years that will be forgotten, I'm sure Tim and Eric wont be on that list.

Chase Those Dreams!!

Do you believe in the unbelievable? Can you reach the unreachable? Well Adult Swim wants to test your skill
in their hit game "Robot Unicorn Attack"!
The game featured on adultswim.com has made an international hit since its debut. The game doesn't necessarily have a goal to reach to, besides making a high score, mainly from survival and catching fairy's and destroying stars. it gives you 3 unicorn lives or excuse me "Wishes" to make highest scores possible. After you have played all 3 "wishes", they are all added up at the end of the game to get your total score.

The game looks laughably easy, but it gets rather complex as you venture through it. The game gets faster and faster, straining your eyes to keep up with the speed of the Unicorn, and trying to watch out for obstacles ahead. The game is loads of fun in its strange humorous way, but has a challenge!! Recently Facebook and adultswim.com made their own Application of the game on Facebook, so friends can share their scores together and have a "Weekly Tournament".
So are you willing to chase your dreams? Well this is your chance!!! Make you're wishes come true!


Give it a shot!!!
http://games.adultswim.com/robot-unicorn-attack-twitchy-online-game.html

ALSO; The Game has a new version out called, "Robot Unicorn Attack Heavy Metal" gives it a more "Hell Like" Atmosphere (Hince the name). It's only available For your ipod devices , so check out the itunes app store
and get it today!!!

Remembering Two Of Rock's Most Underrated Masterminds.

Alex Chilton had his moment of big Fame when his band "The Box Tops" released their hit song "The Letter",
the single sold a bunch of copy's for that whole year in 1964 , after that not much hits came for the box tops.

After the boxtops  Alex wanted to try something new, he then started working with "Big Star'' A Powerpop band from Memphis, Tennessee. Big Star was never really Recognized in their time, people where more focused on bigger bands, such as "Led Zeppelin", and "The Who", who where getting lots of attention at their time they where together 1971-1974. Big Star has influenced artists such as "Elliott Smith", "Flaming Lips",and ''Garbage".
in fact Elliott Smith Covers their song "thirteen" Probably their most popular. Elliott and Alex's voices are credited as very similar, and I my self must Agree. I don't think its ripping Alex off in any way their voices are both soothing and almost have a sense of self harmonization. Alex has made several solo albums and played lots of shows. on March 17, 2010 Alex went to the hospital due to not feeling well that day. he died later that day due to a Heart Attack. he was supposed to play a show with Big Star on the 20th. instead it was a memorial and tribute to Alex. with Evan Dando of "The Lemonheads" guest appearing and singing some of his songs.. Alex will be deeply missed by his fans, his family, and his friends. but his music will be immortalized forever in his music.







Mark Linkous on the other hand, I must say has opened me up a lot as a musician to new things in music. When I listened to his work in Sparklehorse,  I remember first hearing the album "Its a Wonderful Life" and thinking wow what a melancholic tune for such a happy message.  He is another artist that had abstract lyrics like "Jeff Mangum", or "Tom Waits" (in which he worked with Waits on several occasions). He worked with so many instruments from guitars, synthesizers,  to xylophones. The best thing about Sparklehorse to me was the raw churning lo- fi feel  in his records. his albums where never nicely polished or fixed when there where sudden noises in a recording, they where kept as part of the song. They all had that scratch and edge to the sound of each song and it made alot of what sparklehorse's charm was. that was the art to me..

Linkous Has also worked with artists such as "Danger Mouse" "PJ Harvey" and "Daniel Johnston". Which I find the fact that him working with Daniel as fascinating, Due to hearing Daniels story And Being a fan of Daniels. Mark told an interviewer that "he was scared of working with Johnston for years because friends told him several, frightening stories about experiences with working with Daniel Johnston due to his Mental Illness and Bi poler disorder." But finally got together with Daniel and produced Daniels album "Fear Yourself".
Mark Linkous is glorified by other musicians ,as a "musicians musician". He was a very "quiet solemn man"
But when he performed or released a new album it was a power like no other.

 Linkous had been depressed over the past few days before his death, he had been sending texts to an unknown person that evidently upset him, one Sunday morning he was at a friends house and went for a walk, he was found dead of a self inflicted shotgun wound to the chest at 1:20pm on March 6, 2010 outside his friends house. he was 47.
When I heard the news, I didn't know what to say. I remember thinking stupidly this is the next Kurt Cobain,
but with Kurt It was almost Destined for him to Die the way he did in the end. With Mark it was a shock, I really didn't
expect to see him go that way..That night I retreated to the album that introduced me me to Sparklehorse " It's A Wonderful Life''.  it haunts me more to hear that ghostly whispering track, more than it did when I first heard it.... The Irony.....



This Year we lost 2 geniuses, 2 of which I loved very much. One with his health reasons. One with his reasons of the crucial pain of living..First I would like to remember these two as musical masterminds. They influenced so many, and touched the lives of their fans, and fellow artists.. These two Are Alex Chilton of the bands "Big Star" "The Box Tops", And Mark Linkous of His Project band "Sparklehorse". Both of these artists contributed to music more than their, popularity.

The Crazy Diamond.

I remember Clearly when Syd Barrett died. It was Early July of 2006, my mother had the radio on in the car one of our local classic rock stations 102.5 fm. After the song "Brain Damage" done by the Glorified band "Pink Floyd" was playing ,the DJ announced Syd Barrett had died at age 60 at his home in Cambridge, of Pancreatic Cancer. I remember thinking, I had heard of Syd Barrett before, I knew he was in Pink Floyd before the whole "Dark side of the Moon" sensation. but i never knew much about him.

When we got home I started to research Syd's Work With Pink Floyd in the beginning. I listened to the whole album "Piper At the Gates Of Dawn" and was blown away by the Psychedelic genius it beheld to my ears.
Although Syd was not with Pink Floyd anymore when they made their huge hit with "Dark side of the Moon" and on.... Syd Still Leaves his mark. In my opinion, with out Syd, Pink Floyd would had never Progressed through out their career.  He was their inspiration for most songs like "Brain Damage", "Shine on You Crazy Diamond", and "Wish You Where Here", which where some of Pink Floyd's biggest hits. They Wrote the songs about Barrett's mental Illness  that took him far away from reality for years. A lot of References of Barrett Appeared on "The Wall" album by Pink Floyd  about his mental state. some say he never recovered. no one really knows what happened to Syd. But will never forget what he did for us. his music still sends chills down my spine when i hear it.....
I wrote this article because after a whole night of Floyd's music, and Syd's masterpiece "Mad Cap Laugh's". it inspired me to write this so we don't forget him, he made a big mark on music forever.

If your just getting into Syd's work with Pink Floyd, or just Syd in general, heres some albums to check out....

The Indie Mystery!!

If you ever ventured in to the Indie Rock world

you might have heard the band name "Neutral Milk Hotel"

Pop up in suggestions or your research... The band from Athens,Ga never claimed 

extreme commercial success  but they left us with 2 ground 

breaking albums "On Avery Island" And "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea"

both albums written from the metaphoric mind of Jeff Mangum

who lead the band. Though the lyrics are very hard to understand they lead you to 

another way of thinking, or give you other interpretations of life. 

 The Album "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" is said that it  depicts and portrays young Anne Frank a young Jewish girl who was killed in the holocaust

during World War II. Although it was never said for sure it was really about her specifically.

Mangum once said "The album its self is really just about living and dying, and no matter

 what being happy in the end".  which leaves a very morbid BUT blissful message. 

After the realease of "Aeroplane" Neutral Milk Hotel split. Mangum lead on to co- owning

"Elephant 6 Records" and rarely plays a live performance. the other members "Scott Spillane

plays in the Athens Indie Pop Group " The Gerbils"

  And Julian Koster plays now in "The Music Tapes". 

"In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" is considered a record collection favorite for most indie Hipsters.

It still sells good amount of copys, and was rated one of the most selling Indie LP's of all time.

Jesse Lacey of "Brand New" Quoted "Aeroplane Is the Greatest Record Ever Written" And covers songs from the Album at live shows.

No word is said about the return of Mangum or Neutral Milk Hotel, but one day we might be surprised just like when Mangum Plays His Rare and random shows. Maybe Neutral Milk Hotel Will return Randomly. 

Just one more time!!!