[kj] Jaz's subtle restoration

[B. Oliver Sheppard]

ABout Jaz;s vocals getting worse or better:

I think I've pointed out before that Killing Joke have arguably gone 
through maybe 4 or 5 distinct phases.

Let's not forget the vocals some are complaining about now are the same 
ones sung by the guy in "The Wait" in 1980, the heavy-as-hell style tha 
inspired some NWOBHM and crust punk bands like Amebix, and which is more 
of the style I am hearing nowadays. I love this, personally. Compare the 
title track of "Hosannas from the Basements of Hell" to the song "Sons 
of Satan" off Venom's 1st LP, -Welcome to Hell_ -- or to Motorhead, or 
to much being done in the underground/crustcore scene of bands like 
Tragedy or Wolfbrigade or Born Dead Icons or inded Poland's PESD, who I 
posted about. None of these are nu metal. Jaz Coleman is right on target 
with this newer stuff. Far from being nu-metal, in many ways it's a 
further elaboration of the punk style hinted at on the seminal 'The 
Wait" song, in 1994's "White Out," etc.

Me, I like music that's hard-charged, energetic, furious, and caustic, 
and Jaz knows when to ramp up the vox appropriately to emote this way.

On the other hand, a recent song KJ like "Universe B" has a perfect 
razor-sharp guitar riff, w/ alternate 80s new wavey Jaz crooning and 
gravelly-voicedness, with a rich, almost spectral atmosphere to it -- 
everything I love about Killing Joke. (ven HP Lovecraft lyrics!) To 
reiterate: I don't think Jaz's vox are worse than they have ever been. I 
like the recent turn.

-Oliver




GREG SLAWSON wrote:

>

> I think people are making too big a deal over Jaz's hoarse shouting 

> vocals. Millions of singers, from Henry Rollins to Lemmy (Motorhead) 

> sing that way all the time--it's a way to sound big and loud when 

> you're singing to that kind of music. Also, even when Jaz "sang", as 

> in songs like "Love Like Blood", his voice was nothing special--in 

> fact, it always had a little hoarseness to it. I certainly think KJ 

> were never meant to be a band that was about vocal skill or style 

> (although his British accent is pretty cool)--there's a lot else in 

> the music and one doesn't need to listen for some kind of opera star 

> to get into it.

>

>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>     From:  /Alexander Smith <vassifer at earthlink.net>/

>     Reply-To:  /"A list about all things Killing Joke (the

>     band!)"<gathering at misera.net>/

>     To:  /"A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)"

>     <gathering at misera.net>/

>     Subject:  /Re: [kj] Jaz's subtle restoration/

>     Date:  /Sat, 18 Nov 2006 16:10:53 -0500/

>     >

>     >Don't you have a conspiracy theory to be obsessing over or something?

>     >

>     >Jaz is capable of singing (as opposed to hoarsely shouting). I'd like

>     >to see that come back. Breath not held.

>     >

>     >Alex in NYC

>     >

>     >

>     >

>     >On Nov 18, 2006, at 10:50 AM, Darth E. Vader wrote:

>     >

>     > >

>     > > --- Alexander Smith <vassifer at earthlink.net> wrote:

>     > >

>     > >>

>     > >> " Since then, too many words, not enough quality

>     > >> control."

>     > >>

>     > >> Agreed. Jaz seems to have lost all semblance of

>     > >> subtlety and

>     > >> restraint

>     > >

>     > > yes, these were always the things I listened to

>     > > Killing Joke to hear!

>     > >

>     > >

>     > >

>     > > Cracked Machine irregular cyberzine

>     > > http://www.webinfo.co.uk/crackedmachine

>     > >

>     > > Look at grafitti scrawled on the wall:

>     > > Dubya can't catch family friend Bin Liner...

>     > > But what the HELL?

>     > > They talk to God!

>     > >

>     > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://

>     > > uk.messenger.yahoo.com

>     > > _______________________________________________

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>     >

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