New Music Monday – 10/31/16

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Nothing too spooky for our Halloween version of New Music Monday, which features new work from:

  • Amythyst Kiah & Her Chest of Glass
  • Ted Leo
  • Death Stuff
  • Run The Jewels
  • Korn

Amythyst Kiah & Her Chest of Glass
Johnson City, Tennessee
Amythyst Kiah & Her Chest of Glass

If you’re in the Savannah area, I’d hope you would already have heard the rich vocals and songwriting of Amythyst Kiah, who has appeared in a variety of venues around town for MusicFile Productions/Savannah Stopover gigs. If you’ve missed out on this compelling and passionate roots-influenced folk rock, you’ll have another chance on Nov. 12th when Amythyst Kiah & Her Chest of Glass (featuring members of Johnson City’s this mountain) play a noontime show for the next Stopover in the Yard at The Grey, with proceeds benefiting the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home. And, of course, there’s this wonderful new EP. – bill

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Ted Leo
NYC
“In The Mean Times” from Kickstarter’s Election Issues, Political Creations to Spark Conversation and Action

We’re all sick of all things election related, but it’s a new freaking Ted Leo song, man. The singular Ted Leo has always worn his heart on his sleeve, writing and covering politically charged songs for years and this one is no different. Catchy riff, solid melody, great lyrics… I’m not sure the man is capable of writing a bad song at this point. Here’s to hoping there’s a full length recording in the works. – Tom

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Death Stuff
ATL, GA
“Surprise Ex” from upcoming full length titled, appropriately, Death Stuff out soon on Monofonus Press

I’ve really been digging the garage/punk/underground stuff out of the ATL lately and Death Stuff checks the right boxes, too. This song packs a lot into a grimey 2 and a 1/2 minutes. If you like Cray Bags, you should check this out. – Tom

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Run The Jewels
ATL, GA
“Talk To Me” lead single off the upcoming RTJ3

Something about the aggressive rapping and production of Run The Jewels feels very punk rock to me, charged and urgent much like Public Enemy felt at the height of their powers. It’s the same formula as the previous RTJ output, trademark El-P beats, back and forth Killer Mike and El-P verses and layered with just general urban coolness. With a formula this good, why stray? – Tom

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Korn
Bakersfield, California
The Serenity of Suffering

Nostalgia, that bastard. Years after the MTV TLC heydays, where Korn reigned supreme for much longer than they should have, the crazed nu-metal band, probably in their 50s now, are back at it with their 12th studio album. I always thought it was a little strange for a band to release new material after releasing a greatest hits album. This will be the sixth album since 2004’s greatest hits release. What if your new material is greater than your greatest hits? Shouldn’t you wait until someone is dead? I suppose making money is a good thing too. Korn dropped “The Serenity of Suffering” on Oct. 21. New Korn music, same youthful angst, slightly contrived suffering in the lyrics (pun), the now infamous drop A chugs (still some of the lowest notes in metal today), electronic escapades and Jonathan Davis’ throaty, sometimes whiny vocals. No bagpipes though. There is a bit more melodic structure in the composition, and the lyrics occasional dip into adulthood, both nice attributes. Mostly, this album makes me remember those days of unexplainable, hormone-driven anger I sought refuge from in Korn’s music. #memberberries. Slipknot’s Corey Taylor makes a pleasant appearance on arguably the album’s best track, “A Different World.” — Joshua