Boris Heavy Rocks

Exactly 2:00 in to this song it's going to hit you. Like a brick. It is an out of body experience. A rush. It is the way it should be.

I wasn't tracking another Boris collaboration. But here they are. Again. Endless touring. Endless releases. Do we really want it any other way? Pitchfork was on it and they liked it (8.2). In fact, it re-energized their Boris love. I don't need re-energizing. They were easily one of the best shows last year and they are beginning to hit that phase in my brain where I track their every move like a hawk (see TV On The Radio, Pearl Jam, John Frusciante, The Mars Volta).

This track is something else. It's probably because it's a union of epic proportions with acclaimed guitarist Michio Kurihara entering the fold with one of the most respected psychedelic drone rock outfits on the scene today. The track is a little more refined then the stuff you will find on Pink, but it still has that raw edge.

I, for one, am busting out the checkbook and dropping $35.00 on this two disc album because, well, no one else is making music like this. You can join me over at Amp Camp.

Boris, along with These Arms Are Snakes, is helping Isis wreak havoc throughout Japan in late January. In May they are doing 5 dates in Japan with Sunn o))). If they bring it back this way this spring or summer I pray my ears are ready for the beating.

Thanks to Fluxblog for always keeping me in the know. Without Fluxblog, BrooklynVegan, and some others I'd be still be signing up for 12 free CDs for the price of 1 at BMG every three months (using different names and addresses) and still finding very little that I liked.

MP3: Boris w. Michio Kurihara - "Starship Narrator"

Boris & sunn o))) - Altar

The following is from Southern Lord Records:

"Southern Lord are extremely honored to present the new collaboration album from Boris and sunn 0))) entitled: Altar. This album is NOT a split album. Altar is a true collaboration album between sunn 0))) and Boris that is a result of both bands conceptualizing, writing and recording the album together as one entity. Both groups have stepped outside their previous sounds and created a wholly unique album that stands on its own unique ground. There are elements of each groups trademark sound within the album but true to each groups progressive and experimental aspects, Altar moves into a completely new dimension."

Kim Thayil, of Soundgarden fame, guests on a track, as do several other musicians from bands like the Melvins and Earth. This thing should be a beast. You can buy a limited edition double disc at Southern Lord now (you can also stream it there) or pre-order the album at Insound. When you pre-order from Insound, you will receive a Southern Lord sampler.

Back in the Mix

Happy Memorial Day. I'm back in NYC after a relaxing long weekend in Charlottesville with the fam. Traveling through DC, I was forced to listen to DC 101 because I forgot to bring cds for the rental. I'm still laughing at how poor their music selection is. Is DC 101 now just a 90s rock station? I think the most recent song I heard during my drive was Boulevard of Broken Dreams. How have they completely missed the boat on new music? They even played old songs from bands that just released albums (PJ, RHCP, etc.). Pure comedy that a DC institution in music could be this bad. Yet another pathetic effort from ClearChannel.

Anyway, I read a very interesting article over the weekend on Sunn 0))), BORIS and their record company Southern Lord Recordings, randomly, from the New York Times magazine . I think you'll be very surprised by it.