Dirty Loops - Hit Me

     I talk a lot about how there's good, interesting music in every genre, not just metal, and I've decided to put my money where my mouth is tonight. Chances are you've seen the name Dirty Loops floating around the interwebs the last couple of days, but now I'm going to tell you why you should go listen to these guys right now.

     Yes, that's right: I, the metalhead, am imploring you to check out this jazzy-poppy-funky power trio from Sweden. And I'm not alone -- I've seen this band recommended by both Numbers and Scale the Summit recently. Why are we all so stoked? Let me paint you a picture. Imagine if Stevie Wonder had been born in a different era... and in Sweden. Now team him up with a super-tight funk-jazz rhythm section, and let him loose to craft some infectious little ditties that will get you moving.

     That Stevie-out-of-time is Jonah Nilsson, that insane rhythm section is Henrik Linder and Aron Mellergard, and that purveyor of tasty power pop is Dirty Loops. This kind of thing really isn't normally my cup of tea, but good songs and good musicianship will win me over, and these guys have both in spades.

     Yesterday I was talking about Cake as being a band that should be much more mainstream. Well Dirty Loops could be much more mainstream, and more than likely will. I'd be flabbergasted if they didn't get at least kinda big. So get in on the ground floor and check out "Hit Me", the infectious opening track from their recently released debut Loopified.

Album of the Week: Sylosis - Conclusion of an Age

     Alt-rock not doing it for you, Monday-wise? I know Cake might not be enough to help you get over the demise of the weekend, so I've decided to get back to this blog's roots with this week's album. Hopefully some 'shredding from Readin' will be just what the doctor ordered to set your week up right.

     Long-time readers will by now be pretty familiar with my love for British thrash titans Sylosis, but just in case you're late to the party, let me try and sum things up as succinctly as I can. Think Metallica if they never lost their edge. Think Revocation from across the pond. Basically, think classic thrash mentality meets modern metal technicality.

     OK, that might not be the most succinct description, or the most descriptive, but maybe it's giving you just enough of an urge to check these guys out (assuming you don't already dig 'em). Their entire catalogue is good, but this week I'm recommending their debut LP Conclusion of an Age. They've upped the ante on every one of the their recordings, but for my money they've yet to come up with something that's better start to finish, end to end, than Conclusion of an Age. So have a listen (or five) and then come back and tell me what you think.

Cake - Never There

     It's Monday again, and I'm going to try and stave off your start-of-the-week doldrums with a catchy, funky little ditty from everybody's eclectic alternative rock band Cake.

     "Never There", from the band's 1998 album Prolonging the Magic, alloys just the right amount of melancholy subject matter with the perfect level of quirky pop-rock melodic sensibility, and then sets it all atop the foundation of a funky, punchy bassline that will get your head bopping.

     It's bordering on criminal that Cake aren't much bigger than they are, because they are a perfect example of something that's catchy enough to get on the radio while still having some substance that can hold your interest across more than one listen. Hell, if more rock-radio bands were as interesting as Cake, us metalheads might not have to look so far afield to find something cool to jam.

Song of the Day: Cake - Long Line of Cars

     I know, I know, I said I had something planned for yesterday afternoon or evening, and I did. But I got sidetracked. By sleeping. But I'm back at it today, and you will indeed get my little treat this afternoon... right after we deal with our usual business.

Song of the Day: Cake - War Pigs

     Afternoon everyone. Today we're back doing day two of Under the Covers of Darkness Week here at Loud Noises, and I've got a good one for you. Yesterday's song, Thrice's cover of "Eleanor Rigby", while being cool, was a pretty straight-forward cover. It was heavier, sure, but definitely recognizably "Eleanor Rigby". Today's cover is a little further afield from the original -- in some very good ways.