Metal Hipster? That’s me, sir!

Ok, here it comes, my official announcement: I am a Metal Hipster ©. No more any of that boring old rap/indie/electronic-crap, just pure metal music for me, thanks. I am on that bandwagon now.

I (mostly) only listen to these bands now:

- Earth
- SUNN O)))
- Khanate
- Boris
- The Sword
- High On Fire
- Sleep
- Om
- Wolfmother
- Mastodon

And I started playing guitar again, as reported earlier, as well as developing an unhealthy appetite for scoring old guitar effect pedals from the ‘bay.

Why? I don’t know really. But right after having been listening and really getting into all that stuff, partially thanks to my man Mark, I read a newspaper article about Metal Hipsterism and I realized immediately that it was talking about me.

As it turns out, Metal Hipster, which is of course a very negative term to any real head banging metal-dude, is a nerdy white male music fan who has recently started listening to some of these particular metal/stoner/doom/drone/whatever bands. And who used to be really into something else before that. And apparently it is mandatory to dig all and any bands that's on Southern Lord label. But I used to be really into metal as a teenager, you know? And the fact is that those bands really rock AND/OR play interesting and fresh music, mostly without that stupid Spinal Tap-style irony/self-parody, or on the other any of that technical wanking usually associated with metal bands. At least I think so.

And hey, if you put together early Motorhead, early Black Sabbath, some Black Flag & Stooges, some Celtic Frost, early Sonic Youth, Bleach-era Nirvana, Metallica’s first album etc. and mix ‘em well and turn it up really loud, can you really get anything else than just good old rock’n’roll music? And please note the ‘early’ in front of all those bands.

Another point is that most of these new metal hipster's favorite bands are simply too left-field and strange for the mainstream of metal music and they will never be accepted into that genre. After all most of the metal audiences are some of the most conservative popular music audiences, along with Country & Western fans. Yeah, come and kick my ass for saying that, you spiky-haired dude in your Slipknot long-sleeve t-shirt.

But maybe I am wrong. Or maybe next month I am really into something else again.

Summer jams

rap is good
Originally uploaded by fiilinc.

I'm really not usually one to look back and reflect on things, i prefer to look forward. But since this is only short-period nostalgia, i gotta say it has been one hell of a year for rap music!

I mean, no disrespect for any other types of music, the past summer was crazy-filled with excellent hiphop & r&b singles and some very good albums. I gotta say that with some exceptions, most indie rock records this year has sucked. There hasn't been many hot dancehall singles (beside Cham!) this year. Dance/electronic? naaaaah, forget about that dude.

I'll give you a list of the ghottest s**t 2006 closer to the end of the year, obviously (you cant tell yet, since there is new Jigga, Jeezy and possibly Kanye still on the way). But i'll tell you what you'll remember as "those insanely hot summer 2006 tunes"... in, say 3 years to come.. Yes. these are all BIG hits, but after a couple of years, that IS all you will remember.

- Ross: Hustlin' (did anyne doubt that for a sec? no, i didnt think so)
- Jibbs: Chain Hang Low
- Cassie: Me & You
- E-40: Tell Me When To Go
- T.I.: What You Know
- Yung Joc: It's Going Down
- Kelis: Bossy
- Field Mob ft Ciara: So What
- Ghostface: Back Like That
- Too Short: Blow The Whistle
- 8Ball & MJG: Ridin' High
- The Pack: Vans
- Lupe Fiasco: Kick Push
- Chamillionaire: Ridin

Along with some 20 more songs, these will be the jams you'll remember summer 2006 of. This is what i think. Save the list and check for yourself after a couple of yrs.
Rap is still number one.

Keep your B.C. Rich and sell your crappy oilpaintings

It seems that the prices for classic electric guitars are now on the rise. According to Business 2.0 magazine the index for collectible guitars has gone up 80 % since the year 2000. That's far better than the index of paintings (up 20 %) or Dow Jones industrial average (up about 0 %).

The reason for this is that the baby boomers with spare cash are now buying the instruments that were played by their idols way back. 50's Stratos could go for like 40.000 bucks right now, and a 1960 Les Paul was sold for $192.000 dollars and a same type of a guitar manufactured only a year earlier went for $250.000.

What is excpected to be the next trend after these pre-70's classic models is actually early 80's heavy metal models made in the US: B.C. Rich, Jackson etc. You could easily make a good money on those babies, if you buy 'em now and wait a few years.

My metal shredding baby from the eighties is an Ibanez RG-750 from the year 1989. I guess I'll have to wait 5-7 years until those babies are worth a lot. But I ain't still gonna sell my baby, we go way back a long time...

Front Lawn Mowin' Hustler

I guess that Al is the king of musical parodies.

Just listen to the lyrics:

...They see me mowin'...My front lawn
...They see me roll on, my Segway!

Tower Records Out Of Business

AP reported a few days ago that...

On Oct. 6, a federal bankruptcy judge in Wilmington, Del., approved the sale of Tower to Los Angeles-based liquidator Great American Group for $134.3 million.

While no firm date has been set for the stores to close, "Going Out of Business" signs went up this week at Tower's 89 stores in 20 states and the chain's 3,000 employees have been told they will be laid off.

The company owes creditors about $200 million and filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in August. In its filing, Tower said it has been hurt by an industrywide decline in music sales, downloading of online music and competition from big-box stores such as Wal-Mart.


Quite cheap izznit, if you think of what Google paid for Youtube...

The future seems pretty hard for the people working in the CD-selling industry. Tower records is the first big one to fall, who's next? Virgin Megastores? In the days of ipods and such, old fashioned media consumption is about to change for good. Why bother buying stuff offline, if you can get the same stuff cheaper online, or even for free

But then again, I may not miss Tower Records all that much, 'cos I'm not into buiyng cd's anyway. I'm more like a Beat Street and TurntableLab kinda guy, But wait, whattaheck is happening over here www.beatstreet.com. Should we start bidding or whut????

Shit on the streets

I almost stepped on this on my street couple of days ago:

"Yak!
COLLECT YOUR CRAP
(So that other dogs and dog-owners don't get blamed for this!!!)"

Makes sense to me.
Who doesn't like dogs and who likes shit on the street?

AdSense is getting out of hand & Dalai Lama

Those AdSense ad links up there are getting getting way too wierd. Erickson Sky Cranes? Come again?

AdSense is supposed to scan thru the text of our blog and to offer links to stuff that should/could intrest people reading our posts but sometimes those links are just too far out there. Yo Google! Get a grip. Anyhow people, even though I am not supposed to say this as it apparently against some rules, please click on thosew Adsense links as many times as you like. Every click earns us €€€, in theory at least. Thanks!

* * * UPDATE!!! * * *

Right after I posted this, the AdSense link changed into "Himalayan Heli Skiing Adventure"-thing, which brings me into completely different subject: His Holiness Dalai Lama, the 14th Dalai Lama, the Spiritual Leader of Tibetan people , who is in exile in India because of China having taken over Tibet, and who I have enormous respect for, mainly because I used to be big Beastie Boys fan I guess, is currently visiting Helsinki.

Well, my pregnant girlfriend claims to have seen him yesterday in downtown Helsinki, checking out latest mobile phone models at a DNA store. At least she saw a tibetan buddhist monk shopping for a new mobile phones. Whether it was actually Dalai Lama or not, I am very disappointed that she DID NOT go to that monk and ask him to hold his hand on her belly to give a blessing or to transfer some good vibes or something to our baby. Damn.

But remember this: FREE TIBET !!!

Beck’s Cellphone Is Dead

Hey, here is the new single from Beck “Cellphone Is Dead” , and it’s pretty good! Click the song title and get it while you can.

Kriton remix business is HUUUU-GE!

thisistheremix
Originally uploaded by fiilinc.

Yes it is. And to boost the image of hugeness, just imagine Donald Trump saying the title.

But it is true in a sense. During the past few weeks we have been making a couple 100% bona fide original Kriton remixes, that you will get to hear pretty soon (=as soon as something is mixed and mastered). But aside that, we have been busy doing some new remixes the old school blend-style at home. And also, don't forget that Busta Rhymes / Swizz Beatz Remix that Hennessy did a couple of weeks ago. Up there in Myspaceland as well as da Kritonville.

So there's a lot of new heat: i made the Missy Elliott / Three 6 Mafia -blend (no, dont call it a "mash-up", that's so 2003) "Fly Control" off of two urban classics from last year. That's up for listening/downloading at the Kriton MySpace page.

Also, Hennessy's mashed together a nice combo of Bone Crusher's Can't Get No Lower and revival riddim Police Inna Helicopter. If they mated? yes, that's right: Can't Get No Helicopter!!!
Also up for downloading at Kriton Myspace site today! So watch that show.

I also have two new heaters ready and out the oven (big 2006 hits), they will be posted on the myspace site soon enough. And i will tell you what they are, when they are.

And on top of that: the very cool dudes of Top Billin also promised to play some of our new remix ishh at the GRAND OPENING of their new club - Top Billin! That's on friday 29.9. at Rose Garden, Helsinki. And you should go there. Because Top Billin is the shiznitzel. if you don't know you better axx somebody.

Dear Metro, Welcome to Espoo.

Dear Metro,
I would like to warmly welcome you, the extension of the Helsinki’s one and only subway line, to the wonderful City of Espoo.

As you indeed already know, many of us have been waiting for you since the 1980s, even if the local decision-makers in the city government, most of them from more or less politically conservative and right-leaning, have not taken much heed to the wishes of the citizens.

We are very happy that you have finally decided to come and to bring means of relatively economic and in long-term definitely environmentally much more sustainable mass-transit for the people living in Espoo. Even, if it will still take anywhere between 7-15 years before the trains actually start running.

Nevermind the fact that many of us do not even live in Espoo anymore. And let's just forget about the fact that some of us have indeed moved away to Helsinki and decided to stay there, probably completely unrelated to the metro-issue.

* * * * *

Ok, maybe my so-called 'Open Letter'/rant needs so explanation, maybe not. Anyhow, it's cool that City Of Espoo, the "Los Angeles of Finland" finally decides allow the subway to be built there. The goverment will pay for 30% of it and all. I have been waiting this for 20 years already but the nice people in power in Espoo always resisted for no reason at all and drove their cars to Helsinki every day all day (where most of them work anyway) causing air pollution and traffic congestion. During all these years some of the arguments against the subway bordering on propaganda have gone along the lines (in worst cases) like "if we build a metro line to Espoo from Helsinki, then all the poor unemployed alcoholic white trash from eastern Helsinki will flow to Espoo and bring all their social problems along...". Yeah, right.

But now those people have finally lost the game.

I Love Spaceships. I really do.

The Space Shuttle Atlantis returned to earth and landed safely at NASA's Kennedy space Center in Florida yesterday, after 12 days in space. Hooray!

‘Yeah, so what?’, you might ask. But let's spend a minute thinking about spaceships. Spaceships are cool. In fact they are about the coolest things man has been able to conceive and build.

Let me quote NASA here: ‘The space shuttle, the most complex machine ever built, is the only spacecraft with its robust capacity. The shuttle’s capacity enables human today to build the world’s largest orbiting laboratory, paving way back to the moon, on to Mars and further into the universe.’

Flying machine that flies a bunch of people away from the earth? Whoa, dude! And just look at that picture of Atlantis landing there.

Ok, maybe there’s one flying thing almost equally cool as a space shuttle and that’s the F-117A Night Hawk, or the Stealth Fighter, but since it’s a military aircraft (and I am a pacifist) plus it cannot go into space, we can forget about it.

And when I think about things that I though were cool when I was a kid and that I still think are cool, there aren’t that many things left there, except for spaceships of course. Police cars and fire trucks? Not really. Candy and lemonade? Well, I am not really sure anymore. Chopper-bicycles; doesn’t every trendy wannabe-rocker-idiot have one of those these days? You get what I mean?

Spaceships. ‘Nuff Respect!

New DeeJaying Invention, Straight Aus Deutschland. Copyright protected!

Whoa! Now all you deejays out there need to check this out, it’s coming straingt outta Munich, Germany. Traditionally the land of true old skool engineering skills, seen?

* * * * *

"45 Twister"

Mein lieber Herr die Erde ist eine Scheibe und sie ist aus Vinyl... und Dein Twister is suuuper !!!

The 45 Twister is the ultimate tool for every DJ playing 45 singles. The 45 Twister guarantees that the 7inches are able to scratch, mix, cut perfectly as a 12inch! Beat-juggling, contest scratching - no problem anymore! The 45 Twister works on every turntable, because it is a precision product made in EU of best stabile material, perfect measured 45 compatible, plus a super soft-rubber surface mat. This high grade tool guarantees the most fast and safe way to play your 7inches! The "45 Twister" was developed and designed by DJ Enne.

45 Twister Quotes:

Mein lieber Herr die Erde ist eine Scheibe und sie ist aus Vinyl... und Dein Twister is suuuper !!!
(Arno Stuermer / Soul-Sugar / Vienna)

If you wanna mix & cut 45's proper there's no alternative!
(Florian Keller / Compost)

Alle wollen den 45twister! Ich bin begeistert!
(Hery Storch / Unique Records)

Zum Auflegen TOP!
(DJ Mirkomachine)

This little adaptor is genuss!
(Jon Kennedy / Grand Central / Tru Thoughts)

* * * * *

And hey, it is "Made In EU" too. The price here in Finland seems to be 19€, at least in the famous Lifesaver record store.

The New Baby MPC

For anyone interested in making sample based electronic music: I just had to post this picture. It’s the latest member of the famous AKAI MPC-range of beat making machines, the AKAI MPC500. No one seems to have any idea when it is going to be released or what functions it will be lacking in comparison to its bigger brother(s) but look how cute it is!

UPDATE!UPDATE!UPDATE!UPDATE!UPDATE!UPDATE!

Now it is official too, see the official site by clicking this.

But then the real let down & bad part: current list price: $1,299. Say whaaat?!???

TV standards

It's suprising to see how some tv shows can keep up their standards and not lose their grip. There are many examples of those who can't do it, but not so many of those who could. One of my all time favourites is of course the Simpsons. The first seasons were a bit more clever than the rest, but I must say that I'm still always nailed to the screen, once the classic theme begins.

They are now actually converting the early episodes of the series into Ipod-format, so you could get your Simpsons with you where ever you go. I guess the Simpsons are just about the best mobile video content you can imagine.

The clip above is not new, but it's hilarious. Yah mon!

New exclusive Kriton Posse material out now!

Hennessy has remixed the NYC anthem "New York Shit" by Busta Rhymes. This track was done during one hot afternoon this past summer in a far away summer cottage / studio, where some of the Kriton boys like to chill out and hide from the urban stress and feel the Hyphy/Crunk Sauna. So you should feel the heat from this baby.

This remix pays homage to the big apple and the 80's thru 90's hip hop producers. This remix will not be on the Kriton High School Bangers' upcoming "..presents the Bangers" -remix cd, it's a special treat for all Kriton fans out there.

You can download this exclusive banger for free from www.Kriton.biz.

SMASH ASEM: Riot in Helsinki, or was it really?

Time for some politics again.

On Saturday afternoon, September 9th, Finnish police force closed down several Leftist & Anarchist groups’ legal SMASH ASEM demonstration against the ASEM 2006 summit in the center of Helsinki.

Helsingin sanomat writes:

The "Smash Asem" demonstration began peacefully at around 6 p.m., but was unable to move on from the gathering point in the square in front of Kiasma by the arrival of around 200 riot police equipped with shields, helmets, and truncheons.

Not merely the 300 or so demonstrators were hemmed in, but also passers-by on their way home, journalists and cameramen, and people who had turned up out of curiosity to see what was happening, and whether the demonstrators would make good on their website pledge to "bring at least a bit of disorder to the streets of Helsinki".

There were a further several hundred police officers behind the inner ring, as well as five Helsinki City Transport buses arranged as a wall.

In all 136 people including two members of Helsinki City Council were arrested and kept in custody over night for questioning. Five people, none of which were police officers, were injured.

The police prohibited people from using their constitutional right of demonstrating in a public space, right to gather and the right to free speech. During the demonstration some police officers also apparently threatened Mr. Ilkka Tapale, a social-democrat member of parliament by telling him that they could arrest him too (note: according to the Finnish law they cannot do this). Police and Finnish BOrder & Customs officers were filming the demonstrators and and passers-by for their own records. Names and IDs of both demonstrators and people watching the incidents were recorded before they were allowed to leave the place. Police officers hid their name and ID badges.

Finland is a democratic society that prides itself as an example of a democracy, egalitarianism, all encopassing welfare state, transparency of administration and so on and so on.

As J-Dilla (RIP) and NWA said it “Fuck The Police”.

Rap impersonator extraordinaire

I used to consider impersonators as pretty friggin' dull, I mean guys like JP don't really make me laugh. Then there are guys like Dave Chapelle, who do it pretty good - not maybe technically, but they can capture the real essence of the person in the case (like the classics "I'm Rick James, b****" and such). But this guy in the clip above is awesome. He don't make me laugh either, but uzgotta admit, he's the top cat. He goes so smoothly from Snoop Dogg to Jay Z to DMX.

And I also love the beat (Nas: thief's Theme) that samples the ever great "Inagaddadavida" by Iron Butterfly . What actually makes me laugh, is that it reminds me of the Simpsons' episode, where the reverend went berzerk and started singing the same tune, with the lyrics "in the garden of eden, baby..."

Marbury Starbury fo' $15 only

Once again, interesting news stolen from the excellent Popbitch-newsletter:

While every top NBA-baller has their own $150+ dollar sneaker models out, New York Knick’s Stephon Marbury has made it his mission to bring out a line of shoes for poor kids. The cost of his new sneaker the Starbury is just $15. And the dude is wearing the shoe on court himself.

Even if I personally hate the way those techno-b-ball-sneakers look (I prefer more that classic old school style in sneakers), I think this is actually pretty cool thing and it somehow reminds me a lot of 50 Cents’ G-Apple thing.

The Starbury sneakers are sold only in US discount store Steve & Barry's, which prides itself on enabling a family to be clothed for a year for $100. The shoe has become a word-of-mouth phenomenon. Queues run outside the stores, with a two-item per person limit now enforced on the Starbury range. Marbury's aim is to show people just how little it really costs to make high quality sneakers. "Two hundred to buy a pair of sneakers? That's groceries for the week," he says. "History is going to say Stephon Marbury changed the game."

The New KITT. Sucks.

Whoa! Apparently this is the new KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand) from the up-coming new Knight Rider movie. Actually, it sucks. Please bring back the real KITT.

Edu For President!

This is the new s***t. Edu Kehäkettunen feat. Stig Dogg have remade the hook from the song Liiku by the mormon (!) R&B-singer Jonna and the mainstream rapper Cheek.

Here's the link to EDU'S PAGE, there you have the song. If you speak finnish, you will get the message how they've turned the catchphrase or the lyrical hook around to make it really durrrrty - not a surprise here, concidering what Edu and Stiggity have done in th past. . If you don't get any finnish, just enjoy the autotune - it's still all good.

I spoke with Stig the other day, and he said people are already requesting this song during his shows - although it's actually Edu's material...