Myndsick CD Review - By N.L. Belardes
I have just entered the world of Myndsick, a Bakersfield band who recently gave me their CD out at Stramler Park. Their self-titled 2004 album reinforced my theory that there is a strong working class angry sound in Bakersfield. Correct me please, but such a sound may have began locally back with Angry Asphalt Machine of the mid-1990s and carries through today through incredibly talented bands who pursue their own stylings of the post-hardcore genre with flair and personality.
Here’s my review. Hold onto your socks, this isn’t music for the faint of heart… Song one, “Something Inside” starts with Myndsick’s mainstay: driving guitars, and strong lyrics that often change-up between screaming, whispering, rapping and singing. “Something inside is killing me…that shouldn’t be…” Singer /songwriter Simon Faughn belts. Is this an anthem against selfishness or selflessness? The guitars are grinding, the music is hard, the solo is pounding, screaming…whoah. I’m really interested in working on a novel, something self-contemplative as I listen to this furious music. I love the guitar layers that resound like a warning siren.
Song Two, “Dead to me,” reminds me of the terrifying video game I’ve been playing: Half-Life 2… Post-hardcore music that questions sanity and peace of mind is perfect for the harsh semi-reality of ultra-violent video game landscapes. There’s big money in PC game music these days… Simon, call EA, call the gamemakers…! I can just see myself sitting in front of a computer to “You’re all dead to me I see your body droppin’…” Give me this music in a video game with 1000 zombies attacking! I am so there and being terrified and having a great time! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, go buy Half-Life 2, or better yet, Doom 3 and try sitting in the dark wandering dark monstrous halls with music like Simon’s blasting back in your ears like a terrifying scream.
“Reflections” has a really freaky opening texture that flows like a bubbling toxin into a song about a love gone sour. You have to wonder about our self-reflective selves and how others perceive us. I was really surprised that a song would start out so mellow on this self-titled CD. Oh it gets harsh and turns into a screaming, rapping tour reminiscing about what we often do to sacrifice ourselves for others who don’t appreciate what we do. I meet people like that all the time…
Song four “Keep me Down” is a great example of how well Simon does singing in this genre of music. Why? Because his lyrics are straightforward, his words are clear, the music has a clean sheen to it that isn’t fuzzy or over/under-mixed. I can tell what he’s saying without straining. That’s a plus since I like to analyze lyrics, not just the music. This song is uplifting because people do try to keep us down. This is powerful music to slap on the ipod, go bike riding, rollerblading, or hanging out with friends on a weekend road trip… see—not just for ultra-violent zombie-killing…
Oh yeah a bass intro and more intro texture that creeps me out… no wonder this band is called Mindsyck. All of their music explores, now tell me if I am wrong, Simon, the imperfect nature of the human mind… “gotta make this world my own…” before I get burned. After all, this music is about self-awareness of being alone in a deceiving world filled with social walls, right? I like the lyrics. Artists can all agree that you have to be self-made; you have to ignore/overcome the obstacles consistently placed in your path. I love the groaning guitar in the background as the song turns, speeds up, slows down.
Silence is one of those “shut the hell up” songs. Not too fond of that one, but I see the point of the song as it seems to be about some manic person who is about to go crazy if the world inside himself and around him doesn’t quiet down. People might take the song wrong as being abusive toward the opposite sex. Only Simon can clear that up. “About you” gets back on track as this CD seems to get even harder sounding than the first four songs. I’m definitely more attracted to the first part of this CD as it gets really angry, and screams “I don’t want to think about you”. The guitar solo has an attractive melodic sound though… “Our love reminds me of a dead tree. It can’t be saved… you can only visit it in your mind.” Ouch.
OK, I’m going to be a little ticky-tack. I wish the songs didn’t fade and blend. A few of them do and I wonder why. But that’s just my preference… anyway, the final song has some cool guitar work going on that is great for headphones. Sounds like the final screaming that might occur in a psychotic mind just before reaching the edge… it’s really a song about broken love and is one of those mosh songs that I see kids smashing elbows and body slamming to…
Here’s my review. Hold onto your socks, this isn’t music for the faint of heart… Song one, “Something Inside” starts with Myndsick’s mainstay: driving guitars, and strong lyrics that often change-up between screaming, whispering, rapping and singing. “Something inside is killing me…that shouldn’t be…” Singer /songwriter Simon Faughn belts. Is this an anthem against selfishness or selflessness? The guitars are grinding, the music is hard, the solo is pounding, screaming…whoah. I’m really interested in working on a novel, something self-contemplative as I listen to this furious music. I love the guitar layers that resound like a warning siren.
Song Two, “Dead to me,” reminds me of the terrifying video game I’ve been playing: Half-Life 2… Post-hardcore music that questions sanity and peace of mind is perfect for the harsh semi-reality of ultra-violent video game landscapes. There’s big money in PC game music these days… Simon, call EA, call the gamemakers…! I can just see myself sitting in front of a computer to “You’re all dead to me I see your body droppin’…” Give me this music in a video game with 1000 zombies attacking! I am so there and being terrified and having a great time! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, go buy Half-Life 2, or better yet, Doom 3 and try sitting in the dark wandering dark monstrous halls with music like Simon’s blasting back in your ears like a terrifying scream.
“Reflections” has a really freaky opening texture that flows like a bubbling toxin into a song about a love gone sour. You have to wonder about our self-reflective selves and how others perceive us. I was really surprised that a song would start out so mellow on this self-titled CD. Oh it gets harsh and turns into a screaming, rapping tour reminiscing about what we often do to sacrifice ourselves for others who don’t appreciate what we do. I meet people like that all the time…
Song four “Keep me Down” is a great example of how well Simon does singing in this genre of music. Why? Because his lyrics are straightforward, his words are clear, the music has a clean sheen to it that isn’t fuzzy or over/under-mixed. I can tell what he’s saying without straining. That’s a plus since I like to analyze lyrics, not just the music. This song is uplifting because people do try to keep us down. This is powerful music to slap on the ipod, go bike riding, rollerblading, or hanging out with friends on a weekend road trip… see—not just for ultra-violent zombie-killing…
Oh yeah a bass intro and more intro texture that creeps me out… no wonder this band is called Mindsyck. All of their music explores, now tell me if I am wrong, Simon, the imperfect nature of the human mind… “gotta make this world my own…” before I get burned. After all, this music is about self-awareness of being alone in a deceiving world filled with social walls, right? I like the lyrics. Artists can all agree that you have to be self-made; you have to ignore/overcome the obstacles consistently placed in your path. I love the groaning guitar in the background as the song turns, speeds up, slows down.
Silence is one of those “shut the hell up” songs. Not too fond of that one, but I see the point of the song as it seems to be about some manic person who is about to go crazy if the world inside himself and around him doesn’t quiet down. People might take the song wrong as being abusive toward the opposite sex. Only Simon can clear that up. “About you” gets back on track as this CD seems to get even harder sounding than the first four songs. I’m definitely more attracted to the first part of this CD as it gets really angry, and screams “I don’t want to think about you”. The guitar solo has an attractive melodic sound though… “Our love reminds me of a dead tree. It can’t be saved… you can only visit it in your mind.” Ouch.
OK, I’m going to be a little ticky-tack. I wish the songs didn’t fade and blend. A few of them do and I wonder why. But that’s just my preference… anyway, the final song has some cool guitar work going on that is great for headphones. Sounds like the final screaming that might occur in a psychotic mind just before reaching the edge… it’s really a song about broken love and is one of those mosh songs that I see kids smashing elbows and body slamming to…
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Tuesday, June 07, 2005.
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hey this is jc and the lead guitarist is my cuz and i have meet mynsick many times and yes they do kickass
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