Topic: The Music Thread

I have recently, in the last few years, well maybe 7 years or so now, moved on from rock and heavy metal, as I have said several times on here, to jazz and other musics. It was initially a more dissonant form of jazz that I liked, coming from that sort of background, but I'm starting to properly appreciate more cheerful music now, and this is something I thought I'd like to share.

Edit: As a side-note, and with further regard to the quote I have as my forum signature - music, as "purposeless play" works extremely well, and I think that can be said for all the art forms, with the exception of specific musics such as various forms of metal wherein specific rules and criteria have to be met in terms of getting the respect of your peers. I don't know what I'm trying to say here, but, hey! let's have try and have some fun and find out as I write this. I think video games, if you consider them to be an art form, are a form of 'purposeful' play, because there are objectives and rules outside of the overall artistic presentation and story of the games, within the game mechanics, that is.

I think abstract forms of music such as free jazz and abstract art ,to a lesser extent are definitely defined as defying categorizations within the traditional counterpoints of the art forms (jazz, traditional painting) that they have branched off from. Breaking the rules of those more traditional structures.

So yeah, I see things such as jazz and experimental classical music as purposeless play, because, unless they are socio-economically/politically motivated works of art, then the artist's who have created them have simply created art for art's sake, without a view to changing the world, and more to moving people.

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN Seeing your "Moby Dick" update in the "Books..." thread reminded me that I forgot to give you my impressions of Mastodon's "Leviathan".
I listened to it over two-three days last week and while it didn't pull me in initially, it was definitely an album that evolved as one listened to it over time and I wound up liking it quite a bit.
As I mentioned in the aforementioned thread, Mastadon has been a bit of hit and miss for me. Not typically the type of metal I listen to the most, I previously found that their later albums, "Emperor of Sand" and "Hushed and Grim" in particular, were easily accessible (though maybe slightly uninteresting) while their earlier stuff wasn't really my thing. Will definitely give the earlier albums a new chance down the line, as I suspect they will grow on me like "Leviathan" did.

@FuriousMachine Yes, indeed, Mastodon's unique brand of "nautical" metal on that album was quite the treat for me as well, after repeated listening.I'm glad you enjoyed it, and if you want to properly enter into my current wheelhouse then, if you're a fan of jazz or hip hop as well, you can let me know which your favourites are in either genre and I'll try and steer you in the right direction.

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN Hip hop and jazz are two genres where I consider myself a strictly "surface dweller"
On the hip hop side, the only artists I've really connected with is 2pac and The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, the single album project from 1992 (side note: Their social commentary is depressingly relevant today). Wouldn't mind finding more artists in the same vein (either one).

On the jazz side, I prefer uncomplicated jazz; not a big fan of avant-garde and freeform jazz styles (not sure if those terms are even correct). I do love slow, brooding jazz that evokes images of noir-ish scenes. Miles Davis' "Ascenseur Pour L'Échafaud" soundtrack is a good example. The album "Sunset Mission" from Bohren & Der Club of Gore is another favourite. I also like Coleman Hawkins.
(All this in addition to the usual suspects; Chet Baker, Ella Fitzgerald and Ol' Blue Eyss)

@FuriousMachine I haven't heard the Disposables Heroes of Hiphoprisy, but on the 2pac front, I would highly recommend this, very much in the same vein:

As far as the jazz goes , this may be what you're looking for, also by Davis. (you don't have to listen to the whole thing, as the link I have provided is for The Complete Sessions

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN Thanks, mate, I'll check them out Speaking of Miles, I pulled out my "Kind of Blue" vinyl again last night; sweet record! Been a while since I chilled out with some jazz on the turntable

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN Initial reaction: I didn't connect all that much with the Piñata album, though I liked a few tracks. However, I checked out his two latest releases, "$oul $old $eparately" and "You Only Die 1nce" and those two I really liked, especially the former. Will absolutely explore his discography further, thanks for the tip

@Bob_Salat Cool, thanks, always love recommendations and trying out new music, so I'm happy you did
I couldn't find the Smog soundtrack on Spotify, but will search for it elsewhere later. I did find Sketches of Spain and, at first blush, it seems to be right up my alley

@FuriousMachine I'm glad you liked those later two releases, maybe you just prefer that era of Freddie's work, his more recent stuff. Glad you are interested in a more thorough exploration of his discography.

Edit: Also, you might be interested in starting with 'You Only Live 2wice' by Freddie, as 'You Only Die 1nce' is, as you can probably infer, a quasi-sequel to the former.

@Bob_Salat Thanks for the recs, already familiar with Sketches of Spain, love Miles in general, especially his later fusion-led, guitar-centric stuff.

This album has everything I'm looking for in guitar-centric, rock-esque-jazz/adjacent music.

I'm currently reading "The Wrong Side of Goodbye", a Harry Bosch novel, and Bosch is a goldmine of jazz inspiration, both the novels and the series.
In this one, there was mention of Christian Scott and a track named "Litany Against Fear".
I found it on the album "Anthem" by Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, and I really liked it. Laidback and slightly offbeat; very much my jam

@FuriousMachine I love Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, especially when his albums feature frequent collaborator Matthew Stevens on guitar, but I have been listening to a lot of Kurt Rosenwinkel lately as well.

Counterposed w/ a lot of Lupe Fiasco:

Also, what's your stance on jazz guitar in general? I think it's a lot better than the stuff in rock/pop i.e more complex/varied, I couldn't go back to something like AC/DC after hearing someone like Julian Lage and seeing him in concert.

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN I haven't been able to sample Lupe Fiasco or Rosenwinkel yet (I've been deep into Opeth's newly released prog-metal album "The Last Will and Testament"), but when it comes to jazz guitars, I've honestly never encountered much of it; not enough to have formed an opinion on it one way or the other, anyway. I suppose that's an indication that the jazz I typically do listen to lies in other areas of a really broad genre, which opens a huge other style of jazz up for exploration in the future. Truth be told, I've never been much of a "guitar guy" anyway (in spite of having been a god at the Guitar Hero games back in the day ). I appreciate and enjoy the instrument, but it's never been a focal point for me.

@FuriousMachine Fair enough, it very much is a "focal point" for me, as a jazz guitarist, so, yeah, I always keep an ear out for the guitar in the music I listen to. But ,yeah, there are some great saxophonists and other horn players out there, in terms of the "other" types of jazz you mentioned, Fanfares and Freedom by Laura Jurd featuring Paul Dunmall, who I saw at Vortex in the past, is a masterpiece, for example, and primarily features brass instruments.

Also, Walter Smith III is a legendary saxophonist in the contemporary jazz scene.

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN Cool, will check them out

One man blackened death metal HAIDUK live

Currently my favourite EmCee.

Amazing jazz-metal organ trio work pioneered by John Zorn. Highly recommended for fans of his Naked City work, and the first track features Bill Frisell, a stalwart of that initial lineup.

I think I am going to release an EP in January.... It's been a long time coming and it's something I've posted about a a couple times over the years because creating and releasing music has been one of my life long dreams which just never happened for many reasons. But I have 4 tracks ready to go. Not quite the album I envisioned but I think it's enough to release to get a feel for the process.

I did say I wanted to share it here when I have something to show but I just wondered how it worked... I know people have posted their own music on this thread before but is it allowed? does it fall under the advertising rule? I think I'd release it on bandcamp which can be purchased from but I believe allows you to stream the music for free.

I more want to post it as an update really, to let the people on here who I spoke to a lot 2 or more years ago know how I actually got on and show them the fruits of my labour!