Music for the Last Day of your Life – Dragpipe
Release Date Aug. 27
“We’re good old-fashioned rock and roll… we like chaos” said Dragpipe singer Jai Diablo, and that’s exactly what you get on Drapipe’s new album, Music for the Last Day of your Life.
To understand Dragpipe you’ve got to understand where they’re coming from. This is a New Jersey band that lives the rock-and-roll lifestyle, literally.
Richie Garcia, guitar, lives in the band’s rehearsal studio. Gino Depinto, guitar, recently caused a scene when his car burst into flames in the middle of town, and he simply laughed. Monte, guitar, is a porn star. Jeno, bass, sets his fellow bandmates apartments on fire. Pete Barrera, drums, can be considered the “normal one.” He owns his own business.
Then there’s Diablo who recently stole monkeys from a zoo, then, when the monkeys got out of control called the cops. He also urinated into the centerpiece on a table during an Interscope meeting.
As for the music, it reflects their personalities. The album is a full assault, with an anything goes attitude. With songs like “Seeds of Change” and “Simple Minded,” it’s obvious that these guys mean business.
The style of music is similar to that of The Deftones, or a harder version of Jane’s Addiction.
One of the features that stands out in their music is the way the guitars are entwined. Dragpipe really has no lead or rhythm guitar, and with three guitarists that makes things interesting. There is a sort of call and response between the three.
Garcia describes it as “I’ll play something and someone will answer it on their guitar and then they all climax together at the chorus.”
Dragpipe has already drawn praise from several respected musicians. “Angry music for angry times” is how former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted describes their sound. Twiggy, bassist for Marilyn Manson, is so supportive, he wants to write for them.
The band is now leaving New Jersey and preparing to tour, and according to all sources the album doesn’t do the band justice. Their live shows have been described as “totally nuts.” They all bring their explosive personalities to the stage, which makes for quite a show. This is an album that delivers on all levels. – David Young
In Violet Light – The Tragically Hip
Release Date: June 11
Before two solid shows at the Gothic last month, The Tragically Hip sold out much larger venues across Canada while playing their ninth album.
Since their first EP was released in 1987, the Hip have become one of the most-loved and successful Canadian rock bands of all times.
Key tracks include the frenetic “Are You Ready” and the mournful “A Good Life If You Don’t Weaken.”Also not to miss are the track-by-track song notes provided on the Hip’s website (www.thehip.com).
The album was mostly recorded in the Bahamas, In Violet Light shows a ‘softer’ side of the Hip, bringing lead singer Gordon Downie’s poetic lyrics into focus. – Jeska Dzwigalski
