Menomena - Friend and Foe by MaxwellAlper, literature
Literature
Menomena - Friend and Foe
Oregon's experimental trio, Menomena, are back again with their newest release, "Friend and Foe". With a sound similar to Animal Collective and The Books, Menomena provides an extremely unique sound with the inclusion of emotional vocals and unusual instrumentation.
What I find truly remarkable about the new Menomena release is how the group, although directly portrayed as a pop group, easily borders a darker and sadder sound while still illustrating an uplifting message through the music. Although the instrumentals are mainly major keyed and uniquely crafted with unusual instrumentation such as the glockenspiel and saxophone, the vocals are
Review: Hella - '...666...' by MaxwellAlper, literature
Literature
Review: Hella - '...666...'
Math rock and progressive supremes Hella are back at it again with their latest release, "There's No 666 in Outer Space", which was released January 30th. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Hella, they are a group from Sacramento, California consisting of two main members: Zach Hill on drums and Spencer Seim on guitar. Their lineup has changed over their nearly 6 year life span. On "…666…", Hella features the talents of Aaron Ross on vocals, Josh Hill on rhythm guitar, and Carson McWhirter on bass guitar. With intense and speedy drumming, along with unusual, "nintendo-esque", guitarmanship, Hella has developed an extremely unique sound
Words of the Agarthan Pt. 3 by MaxwellAlper, literature
Literature
Words of the Agarthan Pt. 3
Three.
I was found staring
down the throat of a concrete
mine shaft.
The scent of dynasty filled the air,
my knees... weak like the blades of
grass I once found so hard to miss.
I walked.
I walked as an unconditional ripple in
this youthful pond of concrete.
My eyes and ears were attent, but I couldn't
hear no see anything at all.
Stop.
I don't want this anymore.
What remains is not yours to have.
An exit from the place you call home.
The path is chosen.
Light.
Light bewildered the senses at dawn.
Dawn, more beautiful than any
face, painting, or song.
Songs of the land weeped the chimes
of God.
God, god doesn't know o
Words of the Agarthan Pt. 2 by MaxwellAlper, literature
Literature
Words of the Agarthan Pt. 2
Two.
And I couldn't help but find this entire
damn place unbelievably familiar.
The colors scraping the vanishing points of
the distant sky, so gorgeous.
The black lit writing on the wall, so sad.
The people I met, so quiet.
I stared back into his glazed dark eyes and
demanded to know.
His lips moved and no sound projected.
Nothing was ever heard here.
All that is created here is our warm breath,
destroying the cold by contrast.
I don't like this anymore.
Everyone is the same.
The same clothes.
The same hair.
The same skin.
Uniform by physical state, but
no communicative skill, like
our vocal chords have been taken away
Words of the Agarthan Pt. 1 by MaxwellAlper, literature
Literature
Words of the Agarthan Pt. 1
One.
We traveled in pacts, like
animals scrounging for prey.
With little morale or reasoning,
you took our fragile minds and made
a game out of what was once a great
achievement.
No more need.
No more feeling.
No further comment.
The cold penetrated our hands like glass
to the soft flesh of a beautiful woman's
cheek.
Waves and intervals of madness swept
the air and begged us to leave belongings
by the front door.
Where we were going, possession was
nonexistent, a factor that was paid no mind.
Down further we went, the spiral staircase
of infinite cold.
All concern I had for her suddenly evaporated
like the sweat on my fo
And tomorrow, I will feel it again.
Knowing of reliance and her motives,
how they seal all reluctance and needs.
Let's all fall asleep on the frozen lawn,
and think about what we've done.
Say what you want
to let the time pass,
forget our own faults.
Take them to our happy place,
it feels so nice,
deep within stone vaults.
Take the car to Exeter, and watch the shield fog.
You saw it coming didn't you, you knew it all along.
The doc came in, took a seat,
he told me things didn't look good.
He held the man in a bag,
opened wide,
fell to the floor.
I packed up
all of my things,
and left.
Who's to blame,
for all we didn't say?
Drive the car off the road,
and sing an angry song.
You saw it coming didn't you,
you knew it all along?
Pick up the pieces,
make your move,
take your turn.
We clapped and applaud
The hum attracted people of all sizes to come and listen.
The valley layed strong as the construction of a large din surprised the peaks.
Every landmark bowed to the ground as the deer hide strummed the tight metal,
which blew a dramatic weap upon the people of háls in öxnadalur.
I found myself awake on the side of a mountain made of grass and stone,
gripping her hand and enjoying the atmosphere and noises heard below.
And with that, I found home again.
In unison the tumult swayed and sang of old journeys past.
Laughing, watching the sun set onto the oceans flesh once again.
And as the hide ripped, we took that as our indication that
midnight penetrates the square by MaxwellAlper, literature
Literature
midnight penetrates the square
The night fell onto the river
like boulders into the clouds.
There was an empty
bench under the moonlight,
so cold it breathed a dark grey of warmth.
She and I took a seat,
and as the copper hit the water
and wishes were made,
we kissed under the moonlight.
For ourselves.
For beginnings.
For tonight.
The contrast of the trees and water.
With their tusks.
Their large tusks.
Tusks of leaf and bark.
These are the real treasure.
A silhouette, a reflection, and sunset.
These make up for what really goes on.
What really goes beyond those trees.
I choose to stay at the pond,
And watch as the world is destroyed.
But as this is shielded.
Follow the path,
Ignore the words.
Have you seen the way her hair moves tonight?
Like an eagles wings at work.
And her friends all like it as well.
But who wants to know?
She's a framed image on my shelf.
Along with a few written words.
All of which I've been meaning to shred,
but just haven't gotten around to doing.
Too bad this could be it for a few days.
But then again it shouldn't be.
I didn't get the chance to touch it once,
but that's all right for me.
Tonight.
Tonight we will take a drive.
A drive that only we, you and I, us, nous, can take.
Let's visit our home town.
Let's see what we really left behind.
I'd like to see my home one last time.
It must have that yellow texture to it.
Too bad.
Too bad it must be torched.
Let's end this.
Let's end it all tonight.
Let's forget.
Forget.
Forget.
The rain crashes hard on the burnt roof.
Sit alone, a few dry patches near by.
We, myself, and my soul, walk.
We come across the tower.
The tower is lit.
We walk.
See the dark figure.
Gone.
Immediatly gone.
We walk.
We reach the top.
We walk.
The woman of many ages sits.
We walk.
The pieces of man sit beside.
We walk.
Hair, lit to ashes.
We walk.
Why?
Hope.
Hope for the next life.
And tomorrow, I will feel it again.
Knowing of reliance and her motives,
how they seal all reluctance and needs.
Let's all fall asleep on the frozen lawn,
and think about what we've done.
I felt that I needed to share with you my deepest admiration for one of today's most talented and spiritually deep music groups. I'm talking, of course, about the Ying Yang Twins. Today, I'd love to share with you the lyrics to one of their all time classics, "Wait(The Whisper Song)". Enjoy.
"Wait (The Whisper Song)"
Hey how you doin lil mama? lemme whisper in your ear
Tell you sumthing that you might like to hear
You got a sexy ass body and your ass look soft
Mind if I touch it? and see if its soft
Naw I'm jus playin' unless you say I can
And im known to be a real nasty man
And they say a closed mouth dont get fed
So I don't mind as