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Thursday night, Matt and I went to the House of Blues and watched Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters, as he calls his current band. They put on a phenomenal show! We were right at the front of the stage just to his right. We even got a handshake and our tickets signed in the middle of the last song, “That Mountain”. They played two sets and an encore. The first set consisted of his “Boxmasters” stuff which is more countryish. The second set and encore were more of a rock/country mix. The band wore different costumes for each set too. It just might have been the best concert I’ve ever been to. Really rivals the Dream Theater shows I’ve seen.

PS - I’m uploading pics now. Should be up tomorrow at the latest.

After listening to the first two self-titled albums today I’ve decided that I love Days of the New. Post grunge that’s acoustically driven into you is what they are all about. Lead singer Travis Meeks’ vocals are in the vein of Alice in Chains’ Layne Staley and Seven Mary Three’s Jason Ross. Deep dark tones keep me engaged in their music. Worth a listen if you are into anything like Alice in Chains’ acoustic sets and/or Seven Mary Three.

First of all I am Jake’s little sister, Emily. Hi. Anyways…

Relienk K’s album Mhmm has numerous references to God in them but they aren’t right out in your face. There are also numerous references to women and finding love or losing it. The song “High of 75″ talks about a guy who is depressed and how the sun and his girl makes him happy. The song “Be My Escape” is about God’s love for us and his ability to make anything right. Their music has a very rock and punk, and slightly pop sound. My favorite song by far, “Which to Bury; Us or the Hatchet?” is a perfect example of that. The song “Let it All Out” is very slow and calming, showing their pop side. The song “This Week the Trend” talks about the common stupid things that people do, like backstabbing all of your friends. The song “Life After Death and Taxes (Failure II)” talks about having a life, in heaven if you chose God as your savior, after death.

Overall this album is great. The variety of different styles of music is pleasing. The voice of Matt Thiessen is very soothing and very amazing. I highly recommend listening to Relient K if you are into this style of music.

Overall this album by the trip-hop-esque trio, 8mm, is a soothing way to spend 46:45. Singer Juliette Beavan’s vocals are strong and powerful yet quiet enough that you can easily relax to the point where only your subconscious is really hearing her sing. Some have hailed them as a cross between Massive Attack and Portishead. I’d say they aren’t far off, and while being a fan of those two bands as well I can definitely say that 8mm is a far better listen than either of them.
Favorite cut of the album is “Give It Up” It’s basically Massive Attack’s “Angel” but with Juliette singing and different lyrics.

Worst-lyric-of-the-year alert: “Your verbal defecation I can’t wash away despite myself.” Courtesy of Rolling Stone Mag. (and all the other legal stuff) “Fake It” is the second song. Has a good little bass riff the first few times but then you hear the semi-same riff on another song “Fallen” (number five on the album); thats over doing the bass riff. “Fake It” is catchy but that doesn’t make it good. All the songs sound the same also, if you’re a hardcore Seether fan then go get it but other than that wait till its on the radio.
This album has no substance, and it sounds like they followed the footprints of Staind from their album Chapter V.
“Walk Away From The Sun” sounds like Chris Cornell’s voice if you put him in a big coffee can and swirled him around till he threw up and then told him to sing as you fill the tin with the liquid of your liking. The vocals sound like “I’m-singing-through-a-cell-phone filters” And I can’t explain how played out their style is by everyone.
Cross Nickelback and Staind and thats what Seether’s new album will sound like.

Seether is just another band just like Hinder that will have a few good songs from time to time and then forgotten; soon you’ll find it on the sidewalk while walking one day, from someone that just got tired of it.