Below are the 2 most recent journal entries recorded in Brandon Green's LiveJournal:

Saturday, November 20th, 2004
2:12 am	A Perfect Circle Okay, now that I have listened to everything in extent, I will review all that is APC that I know of, minus aMotion, I do not have that DVD yet. Mer de Noms - This album is their first effort, and my my my, what an effort it is. The disc starts with The Hollow, which in and of itself speaks of a desire to seek what can fill a hollow "heart". Straight to the end with Over. It's a perfect mix of radio-friendly tunes that is sure to delight the whole family. Well, almost the whole family, every song but Judith has a lighter tone too it. The aforementioned Judith is the heaviest song on the album and rightfully so, it's a song about learning of betrayal from something that you placed faith in and learning that one can live without it. As far as personally I have listened to the entire CD from start to finish without random and all that other stuff a total of about 600 times. I must say that if you know the words and actually sit and follow the disc from track to track, it feels as though Maynard is describing to you the path one would take on a journey of self-discovery, a journey of discovering ones religion per-say. Although you can apply to any part of your life, it has a certain holding to religion as that seems to be what it is shouting about the most. All in all, the disc has its strange transitions and short songs built for the radio. Maynards voice is what gives these songs their texture and ultimately their go. So for that I give this album: 3 and a half paws out of 5. Thirteenth Step - Their second effort was even better than the first. I admit, it's different, it was a little difficult to get into at first but after forcing myself through the CD by driving and only bringing that disc along I got to know all of the tracks. Once again, this disc has a very distinct theme, even the title suggests it. The Thirteenth Step has a very emotional way of expressing what I can only think to be what a person would go through during their discovery and addiction to drugs, alcohol, or any other addictive substance. Once again as with the other disc, the songs are made for radio. There's a more subtle aggression though, it's hidden. Among the melodic guitars, the more aggressive bass, and less abrasive drumming, the aggression is there. The songs I will admit are easier to listen too, but it doesn't have the friendlyness that Mer de Noms did that made it so easy to enjoy. The disc is deffinitely more creative though, with Vanishing and The Nurse Who Loved Me being the more standoutish songs that are the more obscure, meaning less common type of writing. On this disc, unlike the last effort, Maynards voice doesn't carry the music as obviously as it did. The writing is tighter, better, everything compliments everything that is playing. With singles like Weak and Powerless and The Outsider, you can't go wrong with this one. Best pick on this disc: Gravity. All in all this band will have a lot more pull in the radio world than Tool would, but again, they are two entirely different bands, with Maynard being the ONLY similarity. 4 out of 5 paws eMotion - This disc, in my opinion is awful. Plain and simple. It's political, it has remixes, and the music is jumbled to the point where it sounds more like noise. Personally there's nothing more I can say. Well, except, I won't ever buy it. 2 out of 5 paws (I gave more than I originally wanted because it's played on the radio and all though I don't like it, I still think you should check it out for yourself.) The Outsider DVD - This is great, it has the uncensored version of The Outsider music video and the first three episodes of Bikini Bandits. The DVD is only about 10 bucks, hardly worth that much money, but at the sametime you really can't buy a DVD+/-R for much less. It's a good DVD though. It's fun to watch the video because it's uncut and entertaining. 3.5 of 5 paws (would be more if the price was less) I have not seen APC live yet so I cannot comment on them as a live show, but the band itself being as though their share a singer with Tool, they are really good on disc. If you don't know of them, buy one of their CDs, or copy one, however you get one, get one. You will not be disappointed. Reviewmutt------------ (Comment on this)
Thursday, October 14th, 2004
7:33 am	Nonpoint - Developement You know something, Nonpoint has to be one of the heavier bands out there still. Most bands put out two CDs then fade, these guys keep going, and this being their second offer sounds as though they have a lot more to say. Developement starts out sounding like a reel-to-reel in a class room about a frog. It brings me back to the days of elementary school when they had to take forever to reel it up and then play it all at once, but from the first note on you get the impression that they are attempting to school you on something. The first track Development is an all-out balls-to-the-wall style loud metal type song. Then it goes to Circles where in my opinion that it's the loudest song on the CD as where it's just a kick ass type song. Followed by the only single off the CD Your Signs. After that it's Normal Days, then My Own Sake. From the sounds of these tunes it sounds as though Elias is singing about a relationship, at least you get that feeling. That is until you get to the next track, Hands, this you know is a song about a person wishing that the other who had left was still there. These songs have a certain emotion that seems to drag you into it. You listen to the songs, feel for the words, try to imagine the same feelings he's going through and he states it clearly enough that you can almost feel like he's expressing what you went through. As the CD progresses, it has the whole reel-to-reel sound until it has the super emotionally ridden, Mountains, this song is great to listen too, I don't understand what draws me to it, but I personally feel that it's a really great song that everyone can relate too. As the CD continues it seems to take the same pattern as the first tracks. It a slight disappointment, as some of the songs are kind of weak, but for the most part still listenable. Probably the most disappointing song on the CD would be Mint. It's not disappointing because it's soft or weak or terrible sounding, but it ends when I think the song had so much potential to be longer and more driven. The song had so much more potential than what they used it for. All in all I would say this: Nonpoint second offering, although not as rockin' as their first is still good in its own rights. I would suggest purchasing it only if you enjoy albums similar to it. Meaning if you liked the first one, you will like the second one. Each song can be enjoyed in their own right, it's a lot of the same old I miss her, why can't we work things out, what's wrong with that? If you like CDs like that then this one is right up your alley. Mutt rating: 3.5 mutt paws (Comment on this)