HERMITOLOGY



My name is Riley, and I play drums and write music for a band called Thrice.

This is where I ramble about music, sports, food, books, interwebbery, and whatever else I feel like sharing. I apologize in advance.

In addition to my ramblings here, I write a piece for OC Weekly called "3hree Things" that runs every Tuesday, and I'm also writing over at Flip Collective on occasion.

I'm the co-founder of a baseball-specific twitter feed and blog with my friend Ian, called Productive Outs.

And last, but not least, I have a bandcamp page and a soundcloud page that I'll be posting my own music and remixes on every once in a while.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions presented on this blog are mine, and do not reflect the position or views of the band as a whole.

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10 posts tagged Animals As Leaders

Remember when you thought you were like…kinda OK at your instrument?

This Week's 3hree Things: My 12 Favorite Albums Of 2011, Vol. 4 of 4

We finally made it to my three favorite records from last year.

Thanks for reading (if you did).

Random Start: Michael Hedges, “Silent Anticipations”


This is shredding on an entirely different level than you’re probably used to.

I think it was my pops who first got me into Michael Hedges’ guitar playing by showing me his Aerial Boundaries record (which is stunningly good). It’s been a favorite ever since, and in a strange way, I think my love of Hedges’ playing is directly responsible for my massive appreciation of Tosin Abasi’s work with Animal As Leaders. The similarities in style aren’t difficult to hear.

Buy Hedges’ Breakfast In The Field here.

I just saw this in person, with a “full” band, and I’m seriously having trouble comprehending/digesting the awesomeness. I can’t recall the last time I’ve had my mind blown on this level. It was totally surreal. Usually, clapping or cheering is the normal response between songs at a rock show, but tonight after each song I couldn’t help myself from sitting in the balcony at the Anaheim HOB, shaking my head, laughing and trying to understand how shredding (tastefully) on this level is even possible.

Animals As Leaders - “Isolated Incidents”

I’m not sure there’s a band I’ve heard in the past two or three years that has blown my mind like these guys have. I cannot wait to hear this record in its entirety. 

Random Start: Periphery, “Buttersnips”


The instrumental version* of Periphery’s self-titled record fell just barely outside my Top 10 Favorite Records of last year. I found out about them after doing a little research on their brain trust, Misha Mansoor (aka “Bulb”), who worked on/produced the jaw-droppingly good Animal As Leaders record that I lost my mind over in 2009. Since then, I’ve been hooked on all things Periphery and Bulb, and along with Animals As Leaders they’ve been gateway bands into a whole new world of progressive metal that is reviving my hope in a genre that I’d grown fairly disinterested in. It turns out that I’m still a sucker for some serious shredding.

*I was asked previously about why I preferred the instrumental version of this record, and the answer is: I feel that without vocals, I’m allowed a better opportunity to focus on the details of the composition, and digest the incredible playing that’s going on, which is why I’m drawn to this type of music in the first place. It seems I’m partial to instrumental bands anyway. No knock on anyone or anything, just a personal preference.

Saturday Morning Song Loop: Animal As Leaders, “Wave Of Babies”


I’ve listened to this track no less than eight times in a row this morning.

Buy it here.

I wish the quality of the recording was better, but this’ll do.

Tosin Abasi/Animals As Leaders, “CAFO”.

Still blowing my mind.

Flawless.

This record is absolutely blowing my prog/metal-loving mind.

I read a post on The PRP earlier today that Animals As Leaders were supporting my friend, Ben’s band, The Dillinger Escape Plan, so I decided to check them out.

I’m glad I did.

I’d seen this video of Animals As Leaders mastermind/guitarist, Tosin Abasi, a couple of years ago and was totally mesmerized by it—something in his playing reminded me a little bit of Michael Hedges, whom has been a favorite of mine, and a staple in the Breckenridge household for years. Unfortunately, I hadn’t followed up on Abasi’s other musical endeavors (Born Of Osiris, Reflux) or I’d have known about Animals As Leaders earlier.

This is me…blowing it.

This time around, I’ll spare you you forced-adjective-laden drivel I’d normally try to concoct to describe the “what and why” I like about this record, and just tell you that I bought it on iTunes at noon today, and I’ve listened to it (in it’s entirety) three times since.

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