Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Phoebe's Phavorite

DON'T FORGET! LIVE CHAT WITH ME AND ALL YOU ZOMBIE KIDS Tomorrow-- THURSDAY, 8 EST at The HAUNTED HOUSE




In Generation Dead I mentioned a number of bands that Phoebe and Margi like to listen to--some of the bands were fictional, some weren't. The Rosedales--whose picture is hanging in Phoebe's locker, are thankfully one of the non-fictional bands. I say thankfully, because if the Rosedales didn't exist, I'd want to invent them--but the invention would never be as good as the real thing. They have a brand new album entitled Once Upon a Season . I've just finished listening to it a second time through and it is, hands down, my favorite album of 2009. And I got a lot of good stuff this year. If I had my way, the Rosedales would be doing the soundtrack for a Generation Dead movie, that's how much I like the Rosedales (of course, if I had my way, there would be a Generation Dead movie already in production).

I'm not going to do a typical track-by-track dissection of the album, I'm just going to urge you to use those iTunes and Amazon gift cards you'll be getting in your stockings this year on the new album. Give "Cold, Cold Heart" or "Nightgown" or "Never Coming Home" a listen if you are skeptical. Heck, give any of them a listen.

Off-the-cuff descriptions I've read typically lump them in with "horror-punk" or "horror-rock"; I first became aware of them from hearing a track on a horrorpunk compilation. "Horrorpunk", typically, is an industry term for "Misfits copy-band". Understand that I love Misfits copy bands--but the horrorpunk label applied to the Rosedales does them a real disservice, because they have a sound that is all their own. Clean, layered vocal harmonies, atmospheric arrangements, haunting lyrics, music that alternates between driving rock (mostly) and a few lush, quiet acoustic moments that are as breathtaking as they are unexpected, as in "Meet You There". And the thing is, your breath has already been taken away by the epic scope and relentless pace of the earlier numbers.

Okay, I admit it. I'm a total fan. But listen for yourself. Here's a video from one of their songs from their earlier release, Raise Your Spirits:



A ten-spot will cover the album download, and leave you a little change left. You can apply it towards the two new Misfits songs that came out last month, if you. Or if your richie aunt gave you the mega-sized download card, get the Rosedales 'Raise Your Spirits as well (less than twenty bucks for the two!); I promise you won't regret it.

12 comments:

fayemouslovesyew said...

Well if I had MY way, Generation Dead would be a movie and I'd be Pheobe! And my mom wouldn't freak out that I'm "goth"! Woohoo!

I'll check the band out. And see you tonight :D

Lita138 said...

oooh yea! The Rosedales RULE! I am a "need to won the CD kinda person" so I am waiting till I can afford it and it's available! Bummed I missed the LIve chat..but I did get the in person chat when you were in town! :)

Raschel_[Reads it.] said...

I don't know how much I can even say I'm so sorry for being an hour late....I feel so horrible.

Kiba said...

If I had my way, Generation Dead would be a movie too. I'd be looking forward to who plays Adam the most. I'm not usually so soft, but I think I'd die and come back if I saw Adam on the big screen.

I just added The Rosedales 'It's Midnight' to my playlist on Youtube. I'm surprised - I don't usually like that kind of weird trance-ish style.

Kiba said...

If I had my way, Generation Dead would be a movie too. I'd be looking forward to who plays Adam the most. I'm not usually so soft, but I think I'd die and come back if I saw Adam on the big screen.

I just added The Rosedales 'It's Midnight' to my playlist on Youtube. I'm surprised - I don't usually like that kind of weird trance-ish style.

Watching said...

Oh I missed it T_T I couldn't figure out the right time difference, I'm not even sure what time zone I live in, that's how sad it is. Anyway, I'll be sure to check out some of their music.

www.davidgatward.com said...

Just downloaded Once Upon a Season. Brilliant! Heavy, soft, lyrical, lilting, sunny, dark... And now I'm gonna have to grab your books, too. You're a bit further down the line than me - my The Dead' series with Hodder is out in July 2010 in the UK. And it's gonna be awesome (fingers crossed). Reading your blog is a nice insight in to the whole author thing. Will keep an eye and will now head off to add your stuff to my ever-growing reading list/bookshelf. Cheers, Dave G (http://davidjgatward.blogspot.com/, http://twitter.com/davidgatward)

Anonymous said...

What if today was your last day??

Scar said...

Hi Mr. Waters!
I am illustrating the sacraficial scene from "Generation Dead"! I was inspired by listening to "Your Guardian Angel" by RedJumpsuitApparatus. I will draw Pete's face, angry; Adam leaping in front of Pheobe with a bleeding bullethole; and Phoebe crying and clutching Adam's body.
Thanks for the inspiration and amazing series,
<3 Scar, awaiting "Passing Strange."

Tashaaa(: said...

Oh my goodness. Generation Dead needs to be a movie too. But a good movie version of the book unlike Twilight. Don't get me wrong I love the books and movie I just think it could've been a lot better. I just wish the were more like the characters. Please, if you make a movie have awesome actors that are like the characters and an awesome director that wont change the script a whole lot!! :D

Watching said...

Now before beginning, I must apologize for double posting. However! The situation is demanding it. For many reasons actually, but as for one; I'm writing this because I saw someone getting beat up. You may be wondering why does someone being beat up have anything to do with me or my blog. The truth is,it has to do with your books. The person taking the beating couldn't run away(trapped between a wall and a vending machine)but even if he could, I doubt it would've made much of a difference, because if you've ever played a video game where there's a whole crowd of monsters you happen to run right in the middle of, they start chasing you. You start running, but one can only go so fast and monsters usually travel faster. That's when you realize that defeat is inevitable, so you turn around and fight, because there is always a saving point, and you can start back right where you left off.

Of course that's impossible, because in the real world time travel has yet to be invented.

So anyway, back to the main point, that's when I realized how wrong it was for biotics to kill/beat up the zombies, It's always been sad but this just took it to a whole new level.
The second reason is you haven't updated in nearly two months. It's killing me, I can literally see my life force floating by, with each passing day. So I hope to see a new post soon, and if not, be sure to let me know so I an tell you when I'm having my funeral*.

By the way, I've been listening to the Rosedales and like them a lot <3 I'm going to buy their CD next time I visit bn.

*assuming I won't come back to life as a zombie.

Daniel Waters said...

Hi Hang Yourself from Stolen Dreams!

Me, too!

Take care,
Dan

Hi Lita!

Love that profile picture! Don't worry about the live chat--everyone else missed it, too!

Take care,
Dan

Hi Raschel!

Ain't no thang, jelly bean. That doesn't really rhyme, does it?

Take Care,
Dan

Hi Kiba!

Me, too! And I'm glad you liked the song.

Take care,
Dan

Hi David Gatward!

Glad you liked it!

Take care,
Dan

Hi Anonymous!

Then I will be glad that we spoke!

Take care,
Dan

Hi Scar!

Let me see! Let me see!

Take care,
Dan

Hi Tashaaa(:!

I'll do my best!

Take care,
Dan

Hi Watching!

I'm sorry, sorry, sorry I stole your life force. I hope this helps.

And I'm sorry about the fight you witnessed. It was images of fights at schools that led me to write the Generation Dead series; I hate even hearing about school fights.

Take care,
Dan