The Dark Side Ain't So Bad

It always happens when I fall into one of those sentimental ruts. In my haste to justify the constant brooding I rush out and buy a vast array of music from tortured souls.
But apart from the unfortunate side effect of moping constantly for the foreseeable future, it never fails to supply me with something delicious to add to my collection.

And this such time, I found a little gem by the name of The Dark Side of the Moon. No, I haven't been hidden in a cave for the last 30 years and only just discovered Pink Floyd's masterpiece. In fact, I'm not even 30 years old yet, so that would be nigh on impossible and quite a stupid thing to even consider in the first place.

I did, however, pick up the remake of Dark Side of the Moon performed by The Flaming Lips, Stardeath and White Dwarfs, Henry Rollins and Peaches.

Now clearly I was a bit apprehensive about this at first, considering I didn't think there was much wrong the original. But I figured with Flaming Lips and Henry Rollins playing a part, it must have some pretty interesting and cooky things happening in there.

My first impression was 'wow!' So I gave it another listen. Same result second time. I was satisfied I'd made the right choice.
The amazing thing about this album is it adds a whole new dimension to that original sound and modernizes it, so to speak.


The whole sound is chunkier in general with a whole bunch of different effects being used. Though that's not to say it doesn't have it's fair share of soft melodies. Time/Breathe is extremely poignant and really emphasizes the message in the lyrics.


The opening track, Speak to Me, completely sets the scene for the feel of the rest of the album, and it's a bloody good feeling!


What I like most about this remake though, is that it's not just a copy of the original. The whole album has been shook up (Thank you. I am aware that's grammatically incorrect).

There are new musical ideas added to songs, new vocal and guitar effects and certain parts taken out or changed from the original.

Henry Rollins does what he does best and rants his way throughout the album. Perfect choice really. He really does that crazy guy act well.

This album definitely stands in it's own right. These guys have brought so much more to the remake and really made it their own.
While it is unmistakably Dark Side of the Moon, there are just so many new ideas and it's such a different take on an amazing classic.

And, like the original, you can't just listen to one song and make your mind up about it. You really need to sit through the whole thing for it to all make sense. In many ways it's a masterpiece in it's own right.

As you may have guessed from my gushing, I'm quite a fan. It really is something else and you will be hard pressed to find another remake that brings something completely new to the table like this one.

Of course, for all you die hard Floyd purists out there this may very well be the biggest load of shit you've ever heard due to the vast difference in the sound and feel.
But I say to you, you're pretentious, much too precious and quite frankly should be lining up out the front of the Apple store to buy the latest thing they told you that you need in order to live. In other words, you're a knob.

Do yourself a favour and buy the album. I did and even in my sentimental mood I got excited!

And if you want to see a Flaming Lips/Stardeath and White Dwarf playing a song from the album, check out below. I believe this was in Oklahoma City. Enjoy!

Big Day Out 2007 Review Part 1

Another year, another Big Day Out. Its the mecca for alternative (or not so alternative according to some but that argument is for another day) music fans in Australia and New Zealand and the WBDF crew were there for the Sydney leg as always to give you our view on the day.


The Spazzys
I inadvertently caught them because it was the time of the day we chose
to use the main arena to do our exercise routine (See bottom of post for more on this 'exercise routine'). boring songs, no personalities, should probably be shot. Should give kudos to Kamahl for doing
a song, not even with them, with his own backing tape and he shot them down. - Javid

Suicide > Spazzys - Pix


Trivium
Solid musicians but certainly nothing that hasn't been done before
by much bigger and much more successful bands. The fact that they played
'Master of Puppets' had me wondering if I was going to see a band today that
WASN'T going to do a cover. One of the better sounds to start the day off
with, a perfectly legible mix. Chosen over the butterfly effect and probably
the right call. - Javid


Lily Allen
It was all about spunk, attitude and slagging off the drummer from Jet when Lily Allen took the stage in the Boiler Room. Clad in yellow Ksubi and sneakers, Lily sent the crowd into raptures, opening with ‘LDN’, backed by a tight rhythm section brass and all. Despite roaring and snarling her way through tracks such as ‘Knock em Out’ and ‘Alfie’ which showed off her lyrical prowess and charisma, front row sound quality was hard to come by with the speakers at times creating an ear-massacring din in what Javid described as an ‘an eardrum-piercing cacophony’. However despite this she was superb, proving she is the real deal and reiterating why I was horribly wrong to ever doubt her. Now we know that Chris from Jet has a small knob…and a cut up face courtesy of a Lily Allen glass. - Chris

Luciano
This year the BDO took a different take on the lilypad with a much
bigger area, a crazier stage and a higher quality of acts. the only one i
was interested in was Luciano - although at the start of his set with a
small crowd it seemed no one shared my enthusiasm for reggae. but then with
the soothing jamaican sounds the crowd flowed in. The greatest thing about
reggae is the fact it gets everyone moving, and has not one single ounce of
a bad vibe in it. The man opened with the only song I knew (Give Praise)
before taking the crowd on a soothing journey of dub and acoustic riddims.
Needless to say the whole place smelt like weed, but the vibe here was
easily one of the best i felt throughout the day. I'm glad I took a chance on
this man. - Javid

Peaches
A Veteran of the Big Day Out by now, Peaches was as filthy as she was faultless. Blending the old set seamlessly with tracks from her latest release "Impeach my bush" the set oozed between Peaches the saltry rock bitch and Peaches the electro slut face. Thankfully she only got down to the dominatrix corset and no further but I guess there is always next year. - Pix



Spank Rock
After Chris discovered the heart breaking news that MC Spank Rock had not made the journey to the Brisbane Big Day Out, it was still worth a brief look to at what DJ XXXchange could offer. Or was it? With the help of b-grade replacement MC Pase Rock, Ken West and his communist cronies thought they would pretend nothing out of the ordinary was occurring and another token black guy could be mistaken for MC Spank Rock. Think again Ken West, admirers of Spank Rock are not that stupid you hack. Needless to say Dj XXXchange ripped out a capable set but nothing that didn't prevent him from finishing early and allowing Diplo to blow everyone up. - Pix

John Butler Trio
Knowing the Boiler Room would probably be packed for
peaches and being with the people I was with at the time I ended up managing
to catch the John Butler Trio as they busied themselves reminding everyone
in the crowd why they are one of Australia's finest original acts. The sound
was absolutely perfect, the setlist was beautiful and when it all ended with
'Funky Tonight' (dedicated to our asses) there was not one person on the
floor of the arena that wasn't shaking it with the best of them. A highlight
of the day. - Javid

"I was immersed in the sound" - Dean.


Front Row: Keiran (Jens), Pix (Pepe'), Chris (Ruudi).
Top Row: Shane (Dante), Luke (Klaus), Javid (Diego), Dean (Ziggy), Clint (Boje)

As the above image demonstrates the whiteboydancefloor crew (Pix, Chris, Javid & Dean) were out in full force sporting their funboy monikers, exercise routines and of course some seriously handsome good looks.

Big Day Out 07 belonged to the funboys and you'll be able to see our interview which Channel [V] were begging us for when the Big Day In roles around, provided we didn't do anything too inappropriate which might warrant them to cut the fun, Channel [V] can be pretty un-fun can't they.

To be continued....