Martians and Chicken

It's been a while since I double featured new music in this blog. Blame it on Isis' Wavering Radiant (see review here). The album was just so good I couldn't remove it from my playlist. Plus, I've been busy playing Warhammer Online. So, I guess, part of the blame goes to me as well. Now all of the CDs I got last month, both the good and bad, have piled up again. But I've managed to pull myself away from other activities to listen to all my neglected CDs, even for a bit, and made time to write this post.

Choosing two new music from my pile proved to be an ordeal, however. There were too many good options -like the new albums of Dirty Projectors and Grizzly Bear- and the conundrum was tearing my head apart. In the end, I decided to feature the new music of already familiar bands, The Mars Volta and Chickenfoot.

The Mars Volta

The Mars Volta is pretty much on the roll this year. They won a Grammy -Best Hard Rock Performance for their song "Wax Simulacra" - and just released their 5th studio album, Octahedron. This is probably their most restrained album as of yet. It's mellow, it's not chaotic. There's none of that over indulgent experimentations they had in their previous albums. It's the exact opposite of their 2006 album, Amputechture. It's more mainstream, however, more pop. So I can see why a lot of their old fans are now whining. But if you can't get into The Mars Volta's music before then now's your chance.

Chickenfoot

What happens if you throw ex-Van Halen's vocalist and bassist, Red Hot Chili Peppers' drummer, and guitar legend Joe Satriani into one band? Do you get a rock supergroup that can rival Led Zepellin? That's what the vocalist, Sammy Hagar, thinks. But no. In fact, this is the worst supergroup ever formed. You just don't group technical musicians with happy-go-lucky members of a lamed out 80's band. They won't mesh well together. I haven't heard Satch and Chad Smith at their worst. Because both their styles are being suppressed by Hagar's singing in this album. In my opinion, they should rename their band from Chickenfoot to Chickenshoot. It's aptly named that way.

From the two new albums I posted above, I highly suggest getting The Mars Volta's Octahedron. Especially to those who haven't heard of the band's music or who couldn't get into them before. They've mellowed down and made their music small enough to fit local radios. Older fans, however, might not like it. As for Chickenfoot, they're fun to listen to. But I suggest you skip their album if you didn't grow up listening to 80's glam rock.

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Waxed Grammy Award

I've only seen one Grammy Awards (The 37th) in my life and decided that it's a waste of my time. From then on, I've never watched the wretched award show. But, nonetheless, the very next day after the awards night, I would scour the news for the list of Grammy Winners. Most of the time, I'd be disappointed with the results. Although there were times too that I'd be satisfied. Like when Tool won the Best Metal Performance for "Aenima" (The 40th) and "Schism" (The 44th).

The Mars Volta, "Wax Simulacra".

But nothing could have prepared me when I saw the list of winners from last night's awards. The Album of the Year was Raising Sand, by Alison Kraus and Robert Plant, which is a great album. Then, best of all, my boys Omar and Cedric, from The Mars Volta, won the Best Hard Rock Performance for "Wax Simulacra".

The Mars Volta acceptance speech.

Man, I never thought that TMV would get a Grammy award. True, they're very talented musicians and probably one of the best bands that came out this decade. But I just can't see them winning a Grammy. But they did. Although I don't really care if they won. I think they don't care either. They might have even lost the trophy already. The only best thing about them winning is that people are flocking them right now. Flocking them and hating them, I love it. TMV, even though with the Academy Award under their belt, is still not for everyone to love or understand.

By the by, The Grammys still suck. Why? Because The Jonas Brothers were nominated.

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