Filter-Amalgamut (2002)

 

Why I Like It:

Filter came into the mainstream around the time similar acts like Linkin Park, Fuel, and early Incubus were becoming mainstream hits. Filter was within the Nu Metal vein but more of an industrial hard rock fusion, like Nine Inch Nails. Speaking of Nine Inch Nails, that's where the lead singer (Richard Patrick) was before he started Filter. 

Filter had two major hits within their career, "Take A Picture" and "Hey Man, Nice Shot". Would you call that a 2 hit wonder band? Both songs I was obsessed with as a kid. Neither are within the album that I will be talking about. 

Amalgamut I discovered through the song "Where Do We Go From Here", which was my favorite song from Filter. It wasn't until much later in life that someone, within a Discord chat, recommended the album because it had more songs like "Where Do We Go From Here" on it. Right away I consumed the album and loved it. The reason I loved it so much was the softer songs, like "The Only Way (Is the Wrong Way)" and "God Damn Me", mixed in with the heavy ones they are more known for. It was a great mix up to my ears. This is why I chose to talk about this underappreciated album over the others of Filter's discography.

I would argue that this album is up there with the other bands that were of this time period and deserves much more love. Give it a shot if you want to be injected with early 2000s industrial rock glory!

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Highlighted song and lyrics:

The Only Way (Is The Wrong Way)- "Everytime they try to make me change/They just wear me down with more chains"

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Similar bands to check out:

Chevelle, Fuel, Incubus, Trapt

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Reviews and links to check out:

Crypticrock.com - 20th Anniversary Vinyl Review

Soundsphere Magazine Podcast - Interview with Richard Patrick

Phenomenology Documentary

Rock N' Roll True Stories- Filters early beginnings 

American Football-American Football (1999)

Why I Like It:

Confession time, I've only recently started to like the band American Football. As someone that claims to like "emo" music, this is probably considered a crime. I always found the music too sprawling and spacious and it seemed to have hardly any lyrics that never meant anything. Honestly? I couldn't see why they are on this pedestal. Fast forward to 2020, when all we were allowed to do was either stay home or drive in isolation. 

As the summer ends, I was driving home from working solo in the field (one of the things I was allowed to do at work), I played American Footfall on a whim and holly cow did it ever slam me hard in the emotions. That feeling of isolation, along with the fading lights displaying the country side, just set everything up perfectly. All of a sudden the sprawling instrumentals were guiding me to some feelings that needed to be let out and explored. It was very cathartic. Sometimes you need to be in the right environment and head space for something to finally click. 

I've been inspired to write about American Football (finally) because they came up in the news for buying a certain house. That's right, the infamous house that's on the cover of their albums. This is what them and their label said: 

"[W]e made a pact with our friends to protect the house from developers and likely demolition. A few days ago, we held true to this promise and formally signed the closing papers, preserving both the space and its unique legacy within the community that shaped its existence."

This is just one example of how the Kinsella's have been integral in forming and preserving the scene they are part of. They have also been in multiple other musical projects, that are still going strong today. This is why I think the band deserves all the praise that they get for being emo legends. For sure. 

Bonus: Find how many song titles I incorporated into this blog and you will win a virtual high five from me!

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Highlighted song and lyrics:

Never Meant - "I just think it's best/Cause you can't miss what you forget"

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Similar bands to check out:

Cap'n Jazz, Owen, Owls, LIES

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Reviews and links to check out:

If You're Listening Podcast- Album listen through 

Pitchfork.com- Review (reissue)

100 Words or Less Podcast- Interview

Live at the Fireside Bowl in Chicago, IL 1999

Atticus...Dragging The Lake Vol 1 (2002)

(front)

(back)

Why I love it:

This CD compilation is a new addition to my music collection. I found it in a record shop that's been collecting music (Vinyl, CDs, Posters, etc) for over 30 years, way in the back of their shop, that's much bigger on the inside then it looked. After 2 hours of scouring for options (which there were many), I landed on a German pressing of a Neil Young record (his move of taking music off streaming services worked) and this Atticus CD. Pretty good haul I must say. 

So why did I pick Atticus...Dragging The Lake you might ask? Well to be honest I was intrigued about what a Blink-182 curated CD would entail and remembered reading an article about it in BooklyVegan, which I 100 percent recommend reading! The article breaks down the album's significance to the scene really well, and much better then my armature self could. 

Another reason I got this CD is there are some songs, and versions of songs, that you can't find on any streaming services. I've listed a couple of these examples below. This album is a fantastic addition to my music collection and brings me right back to 2002! There's so many great bands from that era on here, it's pretty wild. Highly recommend if you find this CD someplace in a record shop, garage sale, or online!

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Highlighted songs:

Simple Plan- I’d Do Anything ft. Mark Hoppus

Jimmy Eat World- Praise Chorus (Live in London!)

Bad Astronaut- Catherine Morgan

Rival schools - On Vacation

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Reviews and links to check out:

Brooklynvegan.com- Retrospective 

Thewitzard.blogspot.com- How Compilations Influenced a Generation 

Punknews.org- Review from 2002...had varied reception at the time