Jeremy deVine is the owner/operator of Temporary Residence Ltd.. While the label began as strictly a post-rock label, lately it has branched out to a variety of different sounds, including hip-hop (Cex) and metal (Nightfist). That being said, the label’s reputation has been built on acts such as Explosions in the Sky, Tarentel and Eluvium; each known for their expansion of the definition of the post-rock genre. The label will go into self-imposed exile during the opening months of 2005, but there are good things on the horizon: watch out for the newest album by The Anomoanon (out now), a new LP from Eluvium and EPs from Howard Hello, Parlour and Tarentel coming in 2005. Oh, and don’t forget Jeremy’s musical exploits in Sonna. Without further ado:
ISIS– Wills Dissolve, [Panopticon]
There was a point a few years back where I more or less had the opportunity to sign this band, but ultimately they decided they might be too metal for Temporary Residence Ltd, and I foolishly agreed. Now I spend every day listening to their new album and wishing it had our logo on the back so bad. I also just saw them for the first time live and haven’t been that transfixed since seeing Joanna Newsom. This track bears a pretty striking resemblance to more recent Tool, which is a very good thing if you like your metal pretty, progressive and powerful. If these guys make a better album than this, I’m gonna drown in my own sea of regret.
[visit ISIS’ website here, buy Panopticon here]
BARR– Untitled
Elementally I shouldn’t really enjoy BARR as much as I do. Somewhere between the first listen and the second I went from liking it because it’s my friend Brendan to loving it because it’s the most unique shit I’ve heard all year. Pointed, rambling motivational speeches that occasionally rhyme, backed with lop-sided live drum samples and cheap keyboard chimes. If this was really hi-fi it would be too goofy and if it was no-fi, it would be annoying. As it is it sounds like accidental awesome-ness, but it’s very intentional.
[visit BARR’s website here, buy What Would The Second BARR here]
Eminem– Like Toy Soldiers, [Encore]
On his last album, Eminem jumped into the rock-rap co-op with a slightly flawed but ultimately successful marriage with Aerosmith’s singular masterpiece, “Dream On.” This time around he flirts with disaster by appropriating the all-but-forgotten one-hit wonder “Toy Soldiers” by Martika. Truthfully I don’t even remember this song, but I suspect Eminem’s use of it infuses a dark, thoughtful tone likely missing from the original. In spite of the song waving a white flag to call for peace between bitterly opposing crews, the unspooling lyrical delivery dances in a kind of escalating euphoria where many similarly-paced tracks fall flat. It’s triumphant, smart and very addictive. This is why he’s the biggest pop star in the world for yet another year.