Type O Negative - Life Is Killing Me
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Free Music Notes for Life Is Killing Me
Free Music Review: A blinding return to form
Hit: 5 Stars
"Life is Killing Me" has been four years in the making and boy was it worth the wait! Many fans were happy to hear that this was to be a return to the more melodic sounds of October Rust and Bloody Kisses, and whilst this is partially true, LIKM has so much more going on in it that to merely classify it as a throw back to those aforementioned albums does the band an injustice.First up, let's get beyond the obvious. The upbeat tempo's present on BK and the lush atmospherics from October Rust are back in full force. Gone, for the most part, are the slow, dragging dirges from World Coming Down, which has in turn been replaced with a far more poppy and accessible sound which combines everything Type O has done to date, minus the slight inconsistencies of the past, thus creating a near master piece of hard rock music.
The album proper starts of with the driving "I don't wanna be me", which is a goth-punk-pop-rock dance floor filler soon to be a hit in the clubs. From there Type O takes us on a magical journey, making various pit stops at 60's psychadelia and pop (Electro-cute, Less than Zero), 70's hard rock and metal (Todd's Ship Gods), 80's new wave and goth (Anesthasia, How Could She?), and 90's punk and industrial (Drunk in Paris, Angry Inch). Audible influences range from Black Sabbath and the Beatles to Bad Religion, Duran Duran, the Sisters of Mercy, Depeche Mode and Motorhead.
The production on hand is near perfect. Experimental sound effects lifted directly from Radiohead's "Kid A" and Massive Attack's "Mezzanine" are peppered through out the album, giving LIKM a very glossy feel. The guitars are amped up, the bass can be heard clearly, and the keyboards give a very ethereal ambience to the songs.
Yes, this is Type O Negative's greatest work to date. Eclectic, powerful, tragic, funny, joyful, sad and angry, all at once, LIKM is a combination of conflicting emotions, feelings, and thoughts, presented in a package of near sonic perfection. TON are one of the last true Rock'n'Roll bands around and present an alternative to the manufactured teenage pseudo angst to be found on the radio today. Life maybe killing Type O Negative, but I am certainly loving it today, listening to their new album!
Stand out tracks: Hard to choose when all are so good, but three of the best are Nettie, How Could She and Electro-cute.
Free Music Review: Vinnland is proud to present...
Hit: 5 Stars
What's Slow, Deep & Hard, and will give you Bloody Kisses in the October Rust as you hear the World Coming Down? Type O Negative's 2003 release "Life Is Killing Me". Shadows of the past combine with paths to the future to make "Life Is Killing Me" complete. Familiar feeling soundscapes swell from Josh Silver's keyboards as impressively fresh solo's scream from Kenny Hickey's guitar. Johnny Kelly's percussion is flawless throughout. Frontman Peter Steele again delivers mind blowing bass lines while his trademark howls and screams drive his lyrics to a near heart-stopping level. "Life Is Killing Me" will not disappoint hardcore fans or those who are new to Type O Negative. The first single "I Don't Wanna Be Me" displays the band's talent and creativity. Switching from aggressive choruses to haunting verses this song blends perfectly into Type O's catalog.
Other tracks I found to be particularly impressive include:
Track 3: "Less Than Zero (<0)" The vocals in this song a impressive to say the least. The music flows smoothly with "Beatle-esque" tones and signature Type O sound.
Track 5: "I Like Goils" Powerfully driven, this song is fast and to the point. Poking fun at the politically correct world we live in these days.
Track 13: "Anesthesia" Typically Type O. The lyrics and vocals are truly chilling. "Anesthesia" gives an impression of familiarity while proving that a band does not have to completely change their sound to remain fresh. "Anesthesia" is properly named. If you mind isn't numbed by the end of this song you have not completely grasped it.
Overall this is an impressive album. From start to finish I was reminded of why I enjoy Type O Negative's music. It's melodic, neurotic and hypnotic. It provides an outlet for whatever emotions you may be feeling. Whether your girlfriend just dumped you for another woman or you put a family member in the ground, Type O Negative shares your pain. Buy this album today. You won't regret it.
Type O Negative is a Non-Prophet Organization.
Free Music Review: Excellent return to form
Hit: 5 Stars
After 1999's epic, World Coming Down, Type O Negative return with their catchiest, and most powerful performance to date. Forgoing the morose lyrics, ominous atmospherics, lethargic tempos and "Sabbathesque" riffing of its' predecessor, Life is Killing Me instead combines ethereal textures and spacious production with melodious hooks, driving riffs and a more diverse lyrical cocktail consisting of everything from dying family members to archaic television characters. The results are as definitely pleasing. For years, Steele & Co. have perfected the delicate art of merging the unbridled poignancy and creativity of the underground metal/goth scene with the melodic hooks and competent songwriting of straight-ahead rock/pop. Life is Killing Me follows in that tradition by providing the listener with songs that are both inherently unorthodox, yet surprisingly accessible. As usual, all of the tracks on the disc are exceptional; "I Don't Wanna Be Me", "I Like Goils", "Angry Inch" and "Todd's Shipyard Gods " rock with sinister aplomb, "IYDKMIGTHTKY", "Nettie", "We Were Electrocute" and "How Could She" serve up delicious mid-tempo melodies, "Life is Killing Me", "Less than Zero" and "The Dream is Dead" provide macabre anthems anchored by radio-ready choruses, while "Anesthesia" and "...A Dish Best served Coldly" act as the obligatory dreary epics.Gripes? The band's return to a more up-tempo writing style will likely chase off some prospective listeners who cut their teeth on the group's darker offerings Admittedly, Life is Killing Me is much more welcoming and radio friendly than TON's previous efforts,. That is not to say that TON has "sold out", if anything the band has refined its sound and trimmed the fat to give the fans a tastier piece of musical meat to feast on. The usual Type O sound is still firmly in place, but this time you get the feeling that the band paid more attention to song arrangements and melody. Those fans who are willing to immerse themselves in Type O Negative's unique blend of ingenious cacophony will ultimately be rewarded with one of the best releases of the year.
Free Music Review: A terrific album.
Hit: 5 Stars
Life is Killing Me is an excellent album. The songs on this disk are kind of a departure from their earlier works. The songs are shorter and more up-tempo.
Thir13en: A great way to open the album with a little instrumental
I Don't Wanna Be Me: A great, punk inspired song.
>0 Less than Zero: Also a good song. Finely crafted
Todd's Ship Gods(Above All Things): A tribute to Peter's father. Another finely crafted song.
I Like Goils: A funny song, but not politically correct in one bit.
...A Dish Better Served Coldly: A song that deals with the end of a relationship with some war references to it. A very moving song.
How Could She: A song that pays tribute to female TV characters of the 60s and 70s. There is a great sitar lick in the song as well.
Life Is Killing Me: A song about seeing the doctor and how a doctor can't assure you good health.
Nettie: A very touching song dedicated to Peter Steele's mother.
(We Were) Electrocute: A song about again the end of a relationship and how much that relationship is terribly missed.
IYDKMIGHTKY(Gimme That): Another outstanding song.
Angry Itch: A song about a botched sex change operation. Not for the sensitive and not a politically correct song. It's a good look into their dark sense of humor, however.
Anesthesia: A good song about loss and its consequences of getting attached to someone only to get hurt.
Drunk in Paris: A great instrumental.
The Dream is Dead: Another song about the ending of a relationship and the loneliness people feel.
Life is Killing Me is a terrific album for any Type O Negative fan to have. They are a great band and consistent with their sound.
Free Music Review: Above all things, boy, be a man...
Hit: 5 Stars
For the uninitiated, Type O Negative is Brooklyn's very own Goth/Rock/Metal group that has been putting out albums since 1991. From their first album, "Slow, Deep and Hard," to the Gold and eventually platinum selling "Bloody Kisses" to 1999's "World Coming Down," Type O Negative has produced their own brand of gothic metal without taking themselves too seriously. "Life Is Killing Me" is no exception. Where every album has made an evolutionary progression from one to the next, this one is the next step. Continuing in the vein of "World Coming Down," Type O creates some beautiful music that is angry, thoughtful, and growing. Their is still some of their dark humor to be found (Namely in "Angry Inch"), but the album deals with the usual on Type O's plate: death, depression, loss in relationships, etc. The album is heavy, but you can definitely tell that their's a Beatles influence in their songwriting. Some are downright punky and catchy ("I Don't Wanna Be Me"), some still sludge through the downtuned muck ("...A Dish Served Coldly" and "Life is Killing Me") and some are just phenomenal pieces of melody and songwriting ("Todd's Ship Gods" and "Anesthesia"). Guitarist Kenny Hickey's guitar solos are still very melodic and he even tears it up a little on some of the faster tracks. Peter Steele still has an excellent Basso-vocal style, which compliments their downtuned style. Josh Silver's Keyboards are as atmospheric as every and produce some great melodies. From beginning to end, this album doesn't lose a step.
It's been rumored that if this album doesn't sell well and/or Type O doesn't get picked up by a major, that this may be their last album. If that is the case, then you can't fault them for lack of trying, because this is by far one of their best efforts yet. Great work by an underrated group.