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• seraluna said:

  Life got you down? Try some Black Pig! Even the strictest of vegans will enjoy this pork! Schooled in hard rock and basted in the ovens of the New York stage, this Brooklyn based band is breathing new life into Alternative music. A genre originally coined to describe music that didn%u2019t fit into the preconceived notions of the existing music world i.e. Rock, Blues, Jazz, Rockabilly, Experimental, Folk, Swing, Metal, etc. Black Pig achieves the description of Alternative because they fit into all of these styles of music, one song at a time. What begins as a Rock Anthem to a discouraged and disgruntled post adolescent generation X, aptly titled %u201CI Can%u2019t Take Life,%u201D transitions to one of the most optimistic, upbeat song about depression ever written! The well crafted lyrics of %u201CDip to the Bottom,%u201D should appeal to anyone who has struggled with feeling hopeless. Furthermore, they inspire belief that we are not alone in our sadness and more importantly, the infectious chorus encourages the listener to find the beat within. (How bad can you possibly feel if you are shaking your booty?!?) Now that the mood%u2019s lifted, Black Pig proceeds to rock out with their unabashedly self-promoting, self-titled ditty. (Which seems to pay homage to This is Spinal Tap, yet is still musically reminiscent of the Beatles, employing the use of a kazoo and barnyard sounds.) %u201COld and Tired,%u201D otherwise known as %u2018the Sicilian Jew Blues,%u2019 is an especially funny take on a classic blues sound, since the band mates seem to be in their late 20%u2019s or early 30%u2019s! However, the combination of music, lyrics and intonation, convey a sense that these young men are wise beyond their years. It also prepares the listener for the melancholy sound and poignant lyrics of %u201CProverbial Twig%u201D. Of course they break up the mood again with, %u201CExcremental (XS NaHCO3),%u201D perhaps the most experimental song on the album. (Think, King Crimson, only not 18 minutes long!) Not missing a beat, Black Pig follows that up with what might actually be categorized as a Pop song: %u201CForgivable Sin%u201D. This is also the point of the album where I find myself thinking, they used a drum machine to come up with these beats? It sounds so fluid and natural, not at all contrived like the use of a machine might suggest. %u201CFictitious Tree,%u201D brings the listener back into a reflective mood. Although not as melancholy as %u201CProverbial Twig,%u201D this song still takes the listener on a true musical journey, which begins with the pain conveyed in the lyrics and ends with a melodic riff that leaves one with a feeling of hope. %u201COptimistic Swing,%u201D uses similar tactics, but of course is set to a swingin%u2019 beat that makes it easy to snap your fingers and tap your feet. (Not to mention shake your groove thing, if you are so inclined!) Next the band revisits their Metal roots with, %u201CStrange Ways,%u201D the only cover song on the album. Stripteasers around the world will undoubtedly choose this version for the steady, sexy beat and impeccable guitar solo. %u201CPrep the Tale,%u201D closes the album and leaves the listener with a sense of optimism, completely opposite from how the album begins. This song most reminds me of REM and would probably be categorized as an alternative rock ballad, comparable to that of Radiohead or Rush. Furthermore, Krista Cook%u2019s angelic reading from Claire Gibson%u2019s %u201CSigns and Symbols,%u201D which closes %u201CPrep the Tale,%u201D leaves the listener thinking about the further metaphoric meaning behind the name Black Pig. All in all a thoroughly well rounded album and a fantastic addition to the music collection of anyone who appreciates any or all of these genres. Aug 15